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."

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

Francis nodded, not objecting.

night, just let the nurse handle it.

glare,

apologies for

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

...

hand, gazing at Gilbert lying

could look

"Gilbert."

"The doctor said we should talk to you more. I've been talking to you so much why won't you wake

I read to you instead?

gaze and

around, Haydée's complexion was pale,

up soon. Promise me,

Francis pushed open the door of the hospital room and

his brother was

the

Caroline dozing off bet

copy

Cristo" beside her.

sighed almost inaudibly,

con cocon