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?"

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

"Francis!"

cut him off sharply, her

met, and suddenly,

a long moment, Francis half-closed his eyes

accepted things, hadn't you? Why the sudden change is it because of Eddy Jones? He's the one who told you all this, isn't

paused, his smile turning

ever occur to you why he'd tell you these things? He still wants you, Rebecca. He's trying

voice growing heavy. "And you fell for it? What, are you planning to get back together with that

grip on her

you'll be my wife. There can't

swift motion, he pulled Rebecca into his

second later, he scooped her up and strode straight for

in his arms. "What

open the master bedroom door, dropped her

"Francis!"

her hands against his chest, trying

together long enough; she knew exactly

want this!

startled. "Why not?

Ine

Francis was in his prime; once he'd tasted her,

"Is this about Eddy?"