Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change? novel Chapter 1203

Just as Sherilyn had expected, Rebecca White went straight to her grandfather, Galloway White.

“Grandpa, could I… stay here for a while?”

Galloway was old but sharp as ever. “Did you have a fight with Mr. Johnson?”

Rebecca stared down at her shoes. “Grandpa…”

He didn’t press her. “If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to.”

He patted her gently on the head. “Stay as long as you like. It’ll be nice to have some company for this old man.”

He stood up, stretching a little. “I’ll go ask Wilma to change the linens in your room.”

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

He waved her off with a fond smile. “Silly girl, you don’t need to thank me. I’ve always told you—this house is your home.”

Once her room was ready, Rebecca retreated there, grateful for the peace.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket—Francis again. He’d already called so many times that she’d lost count. She didn’t want to answer. When the ringtone finally died, a message popped up.

[Rebecca, I’m outside your grandfather’s house.]

What?

Rebecca froze in shock. He managed to find her here?

She hurried to the window, carefully lifting a corner of the curtain. The old house wasn’t large, just a classic detached cottage, with a clear view of the front gate from her window. Francis’ big black SUV was parked boldly at the curb, and he stood out front, waiting.

Rebecca’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly let the curtain fall back into place.

Her phone rang again. What should she do?

With a scowl, she simply turned the phone off. There was no way Francis would dare barge in and disturb her grandfather. If he did, she’d only resent him more.

Outside the gate, Francis stared at his phone, tilting his head up to look toward the second-floor window. Through the sheer curtains, he could see a light on in the room. He’d been to the Whites’ house before. He knew that was Rebecca’s room.

So she really was here.

When the phone went silent and she stopped answering, he wasn’t surprised. He tried once more, but this time the call went straight to voicemail.

Sherilyn sat up slowly and checked the time. Not even six.

Mr. Nine really goes above and beyond for his so-called benefactor, she thought wryly.

Unable to sleep, she got up and headed to the bathroom. She fished out the bottle of sleeping pills she’d hidden in a conditioner bottle and took another half. This time, she managed to sleep past nine, finally waking up with a little more energy.

While brushing her teeth, her phone rang—Rebecca White.

“Sherilyn,” Rebecca said, her voice apologetic, “I turned my phone off last night and missed your messages.”

“It’s fine.” Sherilyn, phone in hand, walked into the closet. “Did you and Francis have a fight?”

“I don’t know…” Rebecca sounded lost, her voice heavy with doubt. “Would you call it a fight? I’m not sure.”

She took a deep breath and told Sherilyn everything that had happened the night before, every detail.

Sherilyn listened, stunned by what she heard. She never would have guessed that Francis and Rebecca shared such a complicated past. It was hard to put into words—what kind of fate brought them together like this?

“So…” Sherilyn hesitated, “what are you going to do now?”