Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Caroline was puzzled. Why on earth would Francis buy a pencil?

Wait a minute, that brand...

It looked familiar to Caroline, seemingly a classic German label. She immediately grabbed her phone to look it up.

Scrolling through the product page, she found an identical one.

Professional grade drafting pencil.

Caroline frowned, her confusion deepening. Why would he buy such a pencil? He was a businessman, it surely wasn't for his own use. Could it be...?

Her instincts told her it must have something to do with James' mom.

First, the hidden pearl hair clip, then the secretive 'love nest', now this pencil...

Caroline had always felt that Francis was somehow connected to James' mom!

But she also knew that asking directly would get her nowhere. Without a word, she closed the pencil case and put it back in its place...

When the night turned pitch black outside, Francis woke up.

As he sat up, Caroline entered from the adjoining room, carrying a bowl of freshly warmed soup.

"You're awake."

tonight, you go and get some rest. You're still recovering, I'll

Francis nodded, not objecting.

nurse handle it. Call me immediately

glare, "Do you really need

for stating the

out his arm to take the pencil with him. Caroline curled her lips into a smile, pretending not

...

bed, a book in hand, gazing at Gilbert lying there, tracing

could look so much

"Gilbert."

her lap and whispered, "The doctor said we should talk to you more. I've been talking to you so

about I read to you instead? 'The

gaze and

complexion was

please wake up soon. Promise me, you'll wake up by tomorrow

began to brighten, Francis pushed open the door of the hospital room and walked

bed, his

the

Caroline dozing off bet

copy of "The

Cristo" beside her.

sighed almost inaudibly,

con cocon