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

his knuckles cracked. He pressed, "Is there anything else? I want to

"That's really all..."

were hard, but the worst moments— you already

few

was hardship,

"Sherilyn."

straight as his knees hit the hardwood with a sharp, echoing

man's knees are only meant to bow

kneeling meant

"

11

stared, momentarily stunned, eyes

She composed herself, making no move to stop

probably won't believe me, but when I came back to Sunhaven, I never imagined I'd be telling you

believe you," Gilbert

memory from the past year-every detail about Sherilyn-flashed through his

just wanting to belong

hard, saving

had been to build a life

he was the one who'd turned

you... I'm

heart clenched. She let out a shaky laugh and shook her head. "Get up, Gilbert. Don't do