Charles nced at Evelyn, worry etched deep into his face. He could keep going, but she was at her limit.


    Her feet were swollen and blistered from hours of searching. Every step looked painful, and if she didn''t stop soon, she might never recover.


    He knew he had to step in. "Eve, please. That''s enough. Come back to the hotel and get some rest."


    But Evelyn wasn''t having it. She ignored him, so he didn''t give her a choice-he scooped her up and carried her toward the car that had been following them all day.


    She''d spent hours searching, running on empty. She didn''t have the strength to fight him off, but her re was full of fury. "Charles, put me down!"


    "Eve, please stop doing this to yourself. Take a breath. You know the truth— Charlie''s gone. You were there for her cremation, youid her to rest. There''s no way she''s here, not in this country."


    His words trembled with pain as he spoke.


    Charles held her tight, refusing to let her out of the car, refusing to let her keep hurting herself.


    "Stop the car! Let me out!" Evelyn shouted, struggling to break free.


    She didn''t want to hear another word. All she could think about was finding Charlie.


    She knew Charlie was gone. She''d seen her die on the operating table with her own eyes. She''d arranged the funeral herself, said goodbye.


    But Charlie was her daughter, her own flesh and blood. She''d carried her for nine months, watched her take her first breath, seen her grow from a baby to a bright, lively five-year-old.


    She''d never mistake her daughter''s voice.


    She didn''t know how it was possible, didn''t know how Charlie could be alive, here of all ces. She only knew what she''d heard-Charlie, calling for her mom.


    Charlie needed her.


    The thought made Evelyn fight even harder, twisting desperately in Charles''s arms.


    "Eve!" He held on, not letting go.


    She didn''t want to go back to the


    hotel. she


    tif Charlie cam


    os en oer? What if she


    daughter all over again?


    No matter how she struggled, she couldn''t break free.


    her


    Her emotions finally crashed over her. She broke down, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Charles, what do you want from me? Why don''t you ever believe me?"


    "When I told you I didn''t drug you, you didn''t believe me!"


    "When I said Charlie was sick and needed money for treatment, you didn''t believe me!"


    "When I told you Charlie died, that Dahlia was behind it, you still didn''t believe me!"


    "And now, when I say I heard Charlie calling for me, that I believe she''s still alive -you still don''t believe me!"


    "Fine. Don''t believe me. I don''t need you to. But can you please just get out of my way and let me look for Charlie?!"


    "Ahhh!"


    Evelyn sobbed uncontrobly, her tears falling in heavy drops. She stared at Charles with raw hurt and while he was caught off guard by her words, she broke free, yanked open the car door, and stumbled


    out.  s?novel


    But her body had had enough. The moment her feet hit the ground, her legs gave


    way. Darkness closed in and she copsed.


    "Eve!"


    Charles''s heart lurched. He rushed to her side, scooping Evelyn''s limp body into his arms.