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?"

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

"Francis!"

sharply, her lips trembling.

suddenly, the

Francis half-closed his eyes and let

sudden change is it because

paused, his smile turning

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

voice growing heavy. "And you fell for it?

on her

to me, Rebecca. You're James's mother, my girlfriend, and soon you'll be my wife. There can't be anyone else in your mind eno one,

swift motion, he pulled Rebecca into his

scooped her up

struggled in his arms.

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

"Francis!"

pounded as she pressed her hands against his chest,

long enough; she knew exactly where this

this! I don't want

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

Ine

normal between them. Francis was in his prime; once he'd tasted her, all his passion

"Is this about Eddy?"