Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Seeing Rebecca White trembling with emotion, Francis Johnson frowned and reached out, grasping her wrist.

His voice was low and steady. "Rebecca, this was a coincidence. An accident. Caroline Bennett didn't mean to go the wrong way, and I never thought you'd get hurt."

Rebecca let out a cold, bitter laugh.

"So you're both innocent? And what does that make me—just someone who deserved it?"

"That's not what I meant-"

Rebecca's eyes brimmed with tears. "What did I do to deserve this? Why do I have to pay for it?"

"Rebecca, it's over now."

Francis tightened his hold on her wrist, his tone softer, almost pleading. "I'll take care of you. For the rest of my life—always."

"No..."

Rebecca shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut in pain. For a moment, she simply couldn't accept this reality.

"No what?"

Francis's expression darkened, his gaze growing colder. "I don't get it. How does any of this change things between us? Whatever happened, we're together now. We have James. We can have a good life—"

"You don't understand. You just don't understand..." Rebecca's voice broke as she shook her head, her lashes wet with tears.

"Then what don't I understand?"

a short, humorless laugh. "Are you saying everything I've done for

"Francis!"

sharply, her lips

suddenly,

moment, Francis half-closed his eyes and let out a quiet, mocking

sudden change is it because of

his smile

you these things? He still wants you, Rebecca. He's trying to come between

his head, his voice growing heavy. "And you fell for it? What, are you planning

grip on

and soon you'll be my wife. There

swift motion, he

scooped her up and strode straight for

his

kicked open the master bedroom door, dropped her onto the bed,

"Francis!"

her hands against

long enough; she knew exactly where

want this! I don't

startled. "Why not? Nothing's changed-haven't we

Ine

was in his prime; once he'd tasted her, all his passion belonged

"Is this about Eddy?"