Evelyn watched Charles coldly, her eyes indifferent to his pain and despair.


    Standing before the eternal me lit for Charlie in St. Mary''s Chapel, she never brought up how Charles had once mistreated Charlie.


    Those wounds could certainly cut deep into Charles now, but they would also tear open Charlie''s scars.


    If Charlie''s spirit was watching from above, Evelyn didn''t want her to be hurt again.


    With a final look at Charles, Evelyn pressed her hands together in a silent prayer, nodded farewell to the priest, and left the chapel with Brooks, leaving Charles alone, kneeling beneath the stubbornly unlit memorial candle.


    [Why? Tell me, why? Charles, isn''t it obvious? Charlie hated you. That''s why she won''t ept the candle you lit for her, why she refuses to forgive you!]


    Evelyn''s words echoed relentlessly in his mind.


    Before long, two dark patches bloomed on the marble floor beneath Charles'' knees.


    After a long time, Charles finally looked up.


    His eyes were swollen and red as he gazed at the eternal me. He reached out


    a trembling hand and gently caressed the ss, his voice hoarse and tender. "Charlie, it''s okay if you can''t forgive Dad now. I''ll keep trying, I''ll do anything for your forgiveness."


    But Charlie was gone.


    No matter how hard he tried to make amends, it was toote.


    There was so little he could do.


    But he could still try with Eve.


    He could put everything he had into winning Eve back, proving his sincerity, making her happy.


    Charlie had adored Eve. Maybe, if she saw his efforts, Charlie would forgive him too.


    Maybe she would want toe back, to be their daughter once more.


    For the first time in a long while, Charles felt a sliver of hope.


    He stood up, his movements heavy and stiff, and walked out of the chapel, one step at a time.


    ...


    Ever since returning from St. Mary''s, Charles appeared outside Evelyn''s apartment every morning, right on time.


    He always held her favorite bouquet-white lilies and blush peonies-waiting for her toe down.


    Evelyn never spared him a nce.


    At night, Charles came again, sometimes bringing unfinished work. He''d wait in


    his car or in the lobby, often staying until the early hours of the morning.


    He just wanted a chance. A chance for Evelyn to sit down and truly listen, even


    once.


    He waited like this for a whole week.


    Finally, Evelyn responded.


    Eve: [Time, ce.]


    Charles was in the middle of a meeting when the message came through.


    Seeing Evelyn''s name, his heart leapt with hope.


    She''d removed him from her block list.


    Charles immediately paused the meeting, asked Aiden to take over, and stepped out to call Evelyn from his office.


    The call barely rang once before she declined it.


    Eve: [Busy. Just tell me the time and ce.]


    A momentter, another message popped up.


    Charles didn''t try calling again. He y typed out the name of t


    Cesta and the time, sending


    [Is this okay for you?]


    Evelyn''s reply was concise: [Fine.]


    Charles: [Can I pick you up tonight?]


    MS


    Evelyn declined tly: [No need. I''ll drive myself after work.]


    Charles didn''t dare insist the way he used to.


    bet


    her:


    She was willing to meet him-that was all that mattered. He had to seize this chance to show her how he felt.


    He replied, keeping his tone gentle: [Okay. Seven o''clock. I''ll wait for you at the restaurant.]


    Evelyn didn''t respond again.


    Charles immediately called the restaurant manager himself-booked the entire third floor.


    He asked Aiden to drive him over early so he could prepare the room himself.


    Once everything was in ce, Charles returned home, showered, and then spent nearly an hour in his walk-in closet.


    He felt like a nervous schoolboy on his first date, trying on suit after suit.


    The closet was packed, but none seemed right.


    If time wasn''t running out, Charles might have kept changing forever.


    Aiden waited at the closet door, unable to hide his exasperation.


    At first, Charles even looked up for his opinion.


    Aiden was honest-Mr. Jenkins could make anything look good. Every suit looked impable.


    He might be hopelessly blind where his feelings were concerned, but Charles Jenkins'' face and build were wless.


    Hispliments were genuine, not just the ttery of an assistant for his boss.


    But Charles only nced at him, full of disdain for his taste.


    After that, Charles stopped asking.


    He kept changing, and changing,


    until


    the


    they didn''t leave get


    finally warned him


    he''d bete.


    Charles finally stopped, putting back on the very first suit he''d tried.


    Aiden: "..."


    He had nothing more to say, and didn''t dare show it.


    He drove Charles to the restaurant, arriving twenty minutes early.


    The restaurant had been decorated carefully.


    Every detail, from the flowers to the lighting, was tailored to Evelyn''s tastes.


    Aiden quietly slipped away.


    Charles took his seat, as anxious as a man awaiting judgment, never taking his eyes off the door-waiting for Evelyn.


    He didn''t have to wait long.


    Barely twenty minutester, Aiden''s call came through: "Mr. Jenkins, Ms. Evelyn


    has arrived."


    The moment Charles heard that, he


    could


    the


    tstill no longer. He


    Tomoses from the table and


    hurried


    to greet her at the door.