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.

settled, Gilbert tiptoed out of the bedroom and slipped into the guest bath down the hall to wash

was just pulling on a fresh shirt when his phone buzzed. It

answered, keeping his

voice was heavy, tense. "Caroline's gone missing from Sapphire Springs

Gilbert stiffened. That couldn't be

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

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

with her nurse and bought dozens

trying to process. "No one can be

see what tickets she bought, but there's no telling which one she actually boarded. I'm stuck here in

I can see," Francis continued, "she's probably somewhere thirty thousand feet up

knowing for sure.

to Sunhaven, isn't she?"

"Looks that way."

anxious. He'd always been quicker to react than Francis, more impulsive. And something about the whole situation set off alarm bells in his