Brooks immediately picked up on the vibe and smoothly jumped in for Evelyn. "Hey, we've got some stuff to handle, so we're gonna head out."
With that, he gently guided Evelyn out of the shop.
It wasn't until they left that the shop owner sensed something was up. But she shrugged it off, not wanting to get involved. She had plenty of other things to handle, so she turned back to her tasks.
...
As soon as Evelyn stepped out of the shop, her emotions burst forth, and tears streamed down her face. Clutching her coffee cup, she cried her heart out. The thought of Charles knowing all along that Sandy wasn't his biological child, yet still showering her with love, was overwhelming.
And then there was her Charlie...
The more Charlie adored Charles, the more Evelyn felt it was unfair to Charlie.
Brooks watched Evelyn silently break down and couldn't hold back any longer. He gently cradled the back of her head and pulled her close to his chest while his other hand softly patted her back. He didn't need to ask questions. His presence was enough to offer silent comfort. Evelyn had held in her emotions for so long, and Brooks' tender gesture unleashed the flood of tears she'd been holding back.
...
Charles had gone ahead and let the media announce Charlie's identity, so now everyone knew his daughter's name was Charlie. But he made sure the story about Evelyn denying their relationship at the Jenkins family estate was kept under wraps.noveldrama
After dealing with the fallout from Evelyn's public denial, Charles noticed her car still parked in the lot. But Brooks' car was gone-she had clearly left with him.
Charles got into his car and called Aiden, "Find out where Evelyn and Brooks are right now."
With that, he drove out of the Jenkins estate. Halfway there, Aiden called back with their location. Charles quickly headed that way.
Before reaching the pottery shop, he
spotted Brooks from a distance, holding Evelyn close. She seemed perfectly content in his arms, without a hint of resistance. The two of them stood on the street corner, wrapped up in each other, as i
their own little world-like any couple lost in love.
Just moments ago, at the Jenkins family estate, Evelyn had denied any intimacy with Charles in front of the media. And now she was in Brooks' embrace.
Charles knew Eyelyn well. She
maintained strong boundaries in relationships. In their five years together Evelyn never crossed the line with any other man, even if he neglected her and didn't visit
Oakwood Manor often. He was well aware of that.
Yet, seeing her with another man still rubbed him the wrong way. Even if he knew nothing romantic was going on it still bugged him and made him angry. Even when she hugged Adam last time, he knew it was Adam playing games, not Evelyn.
Brooks was the first man, other than himself, to get this close to her. Had she really moved on, fallen for Brooks, and decided to be with him?
Charles' expression turned icy, and his hands gripped the steering wheel tight. The scene before him made his blood boil.
Had she moved on?
Did he say she could? Who did Evelyn think she was to love and leave on a whim?
He slammed the gas pedal, raced to the pottery shop and screeched to a stop.
He saw the two still wrapped up in each other, oblivious to everything else. Anger flared inside Charles, and it was impossible to douse.
Without a second thought, he burst out of the car, marched over with determination, and grabbed Evelyn's wrist, pulling her forcefully into his arms.