Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change? novel Chapter 1112

"She's gone," Charles said, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Gilbert furrowed his brow and turned back inside.

He had spent the entire night outside Sherilyn's door, and in his haste that morning, he hadn't had time to freshen up or change his clothes.

Charles, realizing this belatedly, thought to himself, no wonder Mr. Gilbert doesn't look well. Did he have a fight with Sherilyn?

When Gilbert finally came downstairs, looking more put together, he nodded at Charles, signaling him to speak.

"You called earlier. What's up?" Gilbert asked.

"Yes," Charles nodded, pulling out his phone. "There's news from Crestwood."

He continued, "They said it's been years, and since Sherilyn is a foreigner, it's been tricky to track things down."

"But they did find some information," Charles added, sending the details to Gilbert's phone.

Gilbert stared at his phone, his face a mask of worry and pain. "The slums..." he murmured under his breath.

"Uh, yes," Charles replied, nervously wiping the sweat from his brow. "Sherilyn moved to the slums less than two months after arriving in Crestwood."

Gilbert closed his eyes tightly.

He already knew this much—Sherilyn had told him herself the night before.

"She was pregnant and stayed there," Charles continued, "until there was a huge fire in the slums..."

"A fire?" Gilbert asked, shocked. He hadn't known about this—Sherilyn had refused to tell him!

"Yes," Charles nodded. "Records show that on the day of the fire, Sherilyn was taken to the hospital. The next day, Jenna was born."

His voice trailed off, softer and softer.

"The hospital records indicate that Sherilyn couldn't pay... She and Jenna stayed only one day before they were... discharged."

"Discharged?" Gilbert scoffed bitterly. They were practically thrown out!

"Yes, sir."

As the car started moving, the driver and Charles exchanged glances. Whispering Pines Villas? Isn't that where the Johnson family lives? What's Mr. Gilbert doing there so early?

...

At the Johnson Mansion.

Thanks to a prior arrangement with Francis, Gilbert's comings and goings were as unrestricted as ever, as if he were entering his own home.

The household staff greeted him as they always did.

"Mr. Gilbert."

"Mr. Gilbert."

Gilbert ignored them, striding through the foyer and up the stairs straight to Caroline's room.