Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Chapter 1235

"Anything else?"

Sherilyn tilted her head, thinking it over. "Not really, I guess."

She paused, searching for more. "Just working, going to school, raising Jenna. Every day... was the same."

Looking back now, she realized how much hardship she'd endured.

Because of Jenna-her only family. The only flesh and blood she had left in the world.

Her whole life, family bonds had been fleeting.

A father who walked out, a mother gone too soon, a grandmother lost to a freak accident... The Johnsons had taken her in, but they were never truly hers.

But her daughter was different.

Jenna was the one person she'd brought into this world, the only one who belonged to her unconditionally.

For Jenna's sake, she'd never let herself complain or dwell on how hard things

were.

"I'm pretty tough," Sherilyn said with a soft laugh. "I worked and studied at the same time. At one point, I was juggling three jobs. Of course, that was during the holidays. And, well..."

"I'm really good at saving money. So, even though it didn't look like much, I made sure Jenna was taken care of."

abruptly, voice catching. "But then... she got

clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked. He pressed, "Is there

"That's really all..."

shook her head. "Those four years were hard, but the worst moments— you already know about. There's

few hard

hardship, all the

"Sherilyn."

back rigid and straight as his knees hit the hardwood with

knees are only meant to bow to

to Sherilyn, his kneeling meant less

"

11

stared, momentarily stunned,

quickly. She composed herself, making no move to

smiled. “You probably won't believe me, but when I came back to Sunhaven, I never imagined I'd be

Gilbert said, nodding

year-every

come home, just wanting to belong somewhere

hard, saving

goal had been to build

was the one who'd turned her world

hurt you... I'm the

let out a shaky laugh and shook her head. "Get