Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

"What's going on?" Caroline wasn't one to be easily fooled.

"Caroline..."

"Francis." Caroline suddenly closed the distance, her gaze piercing into Francis. "Look me in the eyes and tell me the truth! What in the world is so important that you have to leave in the dead of night?"

He was still on medical leave, in the middle of his recovery.

With Gilbert looking out for the Johnson family from the outside, and Caroline keeping the home fires burning, what could possibly require his urgent attention?

Caroline's sharp instincts told her that tonight's events were far from ordinary.

To be precise, it felt like a long-held premonition was about to come true tonight!

"Caroline."

Francis made up his mind.

He hadn't planned to keep this secret forever, nor was it feasible. The child would eventually have to return to the Johnson family; it was inevitable that she would find out.

But as fate would have it...

He had wanted to find the perfect moment to have a proper talk with Caroline, but a sudden turn of events had forced his hand.

Now might not be the best time, but somehow, they had reached this critical juncture.

"Listen to me..."

Francis took a step closer, taking Caroline's hands in his, "I can tell you the truth, but you have to promise me, don't panic. Listen calmly until I finish, okay?"NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.

"Out with it." Caroline narrowed her eyes, "What's going on?"

Francis was silent for a moment before he slowly said, "The reason I'm going out so late is that... my child... is missing."

"What?" Caroline's gaze froze, as if she couldn't grasp what he had said. "What did you say?"

"I said..." Francis took a deep breath, repeating, "My child is missing. I have to go find him.'

In that moment, Caroline felt as if all the blood in her body surged to her head, the intense pressure almost knocking her off her feet!

She suddenly clutched her head, her body swaying, about to collapse!

"Caroline!" Francis quickly grabbed her arms, trying to hold her.

"Don't touch me!"

Caroline pushed him away in an instant, her eyes wide with shock and fear as if looking at a monster.

"You, you... your child?"

Francis frowned, silently nodding.

"What?"

Caroline's eyes welled up with tears, red veins spreading like spider webs across them.

Suddenly, she grabbed Francis'

collar, ber

user whole body shaking,

"Child? Child? You said child? child?"

"Yes." Francis lowered his gaze, only able to nod.

A deathly silence fell.

Caroline's face turned pale, biting her lower lip so hard it bled without her noticing.

"Caroline!" Francis' brow furrowed, he held her jaw. "Let go! Don't hurt yourself!" "Do you even care about me anymore?"

Forced to release her grip, Caroline.

let go,

smile cold and bitter,

suddenly raising her hand and

slapping Francis hard!

The slap echoed sharply, Francis took it squarely, not dodging. "Francis!"

Caroline glared at him, her emotions teetering on the edge of collapse, "You've always been so stubborn, insisting you've done nothing wrong! And now? You have a child! How are you going to explain this? Huh? What am I to you? What am I?"

"What's going on?"

The noise had grown too loud, waking Sylvia, who came out in her robe, "Are you two fighting again?"

"Grandma!"

Caroline, feeling wronged, threw herself into Sylvia's arms, "You have to stand up for me!"

"Mr. Francis!"

Right then, Sawyer came rushing up from downstairs, urgently saying, "We've got news about your son!"