Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change? novel Chapter 1221

“What?”

Sherilyn was coughing so hard she barely noticed at first.

But now, hearing his question, she looked down.

On the floor by the bed, where some water had spilled, there was a damp, half-dissolved pill. Its edges had already begun to melt, but it was unmistakably a pill—the very one she hadn’t managed to swallow and had spit out just moments before.

“A pill?”

Gilbert saw it too. He picked it up with a tissue.

“Gilbert!” Panic flared in Sherilyn’s eyes; she instinctively reached out to stop him.

Too late.

Gilbert’s brow furrowed as he studied her anxious face, confusion deepening. “You’re taking medication? What is this? Are you feeling unwell?”

Sherilyn pressed her lips together, her heart thumping in her throat. She looked away, refusing to answer.

“Sherilyn?” Gilbert’s voice was tight, a note of dread creeping into his confusion.

He pressed, “Tell me—what is this? Don’t tell me it’s just a vitamin…”

He replayed what he’d seen a moment ago. “Is that why you were so startled when I walked in? You were taking this pill? So what is it?”

His worry was growing, filling the room. “Sherilyn! Tell me the truth. If you won’t, I can have it tested. It’ll just take a little longer…”

“That’s not necessary.”

Sherilyn lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes directly. She understood he was right about everything. Strangely, her nerves stilled—there was no point in hiding.

Her eyes flicked to the tissue in his hand as she spoke, each word slow and clear. “Sleeping pill.”

Gilbert was stunned, his mind blank. “What do you mean, sleeping pill?”

“Never heard of them?” Sherilyn’s expression relaxed further, even twisting into a faint smile. “You take them when you can’t sleep. They help you drift off…”

“Of course I know what they are!” Gilbert snapped, cutting her off. “I’m asking, why do you need them?”

“What a silly question.” She gave a humorless laugh. “Because I can’t sleep, obviously.”

He knew exactly what she’d been up to—Candida kept him informed of her every move, and she hadn’t set foot in a hospital lately.

He took her hand. “Come on…”

Sherilyn jerked as if shocked, every muscle tensing, her teeth chattering. “Let go of me!”

“Sherilyn?” Gilbert’s voice softened, catching her distress. “What is this—can’t I even touch you now?”

“That’s right!” Her breathing was ragged, her eyes wide with anger and fear.

She spat the words out, “Don’t touch me! I told you—don’t touch me!”

Gilbert froze, speechless.

For a while now, Sherilyn had kept her distance. He knew she was struggling, and he hadn’t pushed her—he’d only hoped that, with time, she’d come back to him.

But things had only gotten worse. She was colder, more distant than ever.

“No!”