Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Chapter 1173

Sure! Here's a rewritten, Westernized version of your excerpt, adapted as a contemporary English-language novel. I've replaced the Chinese names, locations, and cultural details with Western equivalents, using familiar foods, customs, and speech patterns.

**The Next Morning**

Gilbert woke up early. Sherilyn was still sound asleep beside him, cheeks flushed from her dreams.

Not wanting to wake her, Gilbert carefully slid out from under the covers. As soon as his feet hit the hardwood floor, he heard a sleepy little sigh behind him.

"Mmm..."

He turned around quickly. Sherilyn was still out cold, eyes shut, rolling over to stretch her legs out from under the blanket.

Apparently, she wasn't awake.

Gilbert frowned and gently pulled the comforter back over her bare feet. She always kicked the covers off at night, and with the chill in the air, she'd catch cold if he let her be.

She was a handful, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

tiptoed out of the bedroom and slipped into the guest bath down the hall to

on a fresh shirt

answered,

tense. "Caroline's gone missing from Sapphire Springs

That couldn't

called last night, I tried to get in touch with the hospital.

confused. "Where could she possibly go? Didn't anyone

"She's smart, Gil. Real smart. She left with her nurse and bought dozens of plane tickets-flights to all sorts of

silent for a second, trying to process. "No one can be in ten places at once. She knew

"If I check the flight records, sure, I can see what tickets she bought, but

Francis continued, "she's

sure. But

coming back to Sunhaven,

"Looks that way."

starting to get anxious. He'd always been quicker to react than Francis, more impulsive. And something about the whole situation