Chapter 617

Roslyn, noticing James was not budging, hurried over to him and whispered urgently, "Why aren't you leaving? Evie just managed to fall asleep. She wakes up so easily, we shouldn't wake her..."

James got where Roslyn was coming from; she always put Evangeline first. However, he had no choice but to disturb her sleep.

He gave Roslyn a reassuring wave and crept over to Evangeline's bed.

Her eyes were closed tight, still damp with the remnants of tears.

Without thinking, James reached out and gently wiped away the wet streaks beneath her eyes. "Evie, if you're not sleeping, come on and sit up. I have something to tell you."

He swallowed a sigh, his gaze fixed on Evangeline with quiet intensity.

Slowly, Evangeline's eyes fluttered open, red and veined with tiny threads, glistening with unshed tears. "Uncle James, I..."

She could not finish her sentence before a wave of sobs took over, and tears began to fall like raindrops.

Evangeline tried to push down the wave of hurt that rose in