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."

at him, "You must be exhausted. I'll stay tonight, you go and get some rest. You're still recovering, I'll take the night shift, and you can

Francis nodded, not objecting.

"If anything happens at night, just let the nurse handle it. Call me

worry," Caroline gave him a playful glare, "Do you really

for

on his jacket that was draped over the couch, and stretched out his arm to

...

hospital bed, a book in hand, gazing at Gilbert lying there, tracing his features with her eyes.

could look so much

"Gilbert."

lap and whispered, "The doctor said we should talk to

about I read to you instead?

her gaze and began to read

was pale,

wake up soon. Promise me, you'll

pushed open the

his brother was

the

Caroline dozing off bet

copy

Cristo" beside her.

almost inaudibly,

con cocon