Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Seeing Sherilyn hesitate, Caleb turned to Blake.

"Blake, grab a few more scripts for Sherilyn. And Sherilyn, take these home and think them over. No need to rush; you've got time to prepare."

It was an offer she couldn't refuse.

Sherilyn, with a bit of uncertainty, nodded, "Alright, Mr. Marshall."

---

This week, Francis Johnson was moving back from the hospital to the Johnson Mansion.

What he needed most now was rehabilitation, something that could be continued at home, especially since the environment there was more conducive to recovery.

The presence of familiar family members would also greatly benefit his healing process.

Such significant news also reached Sherilyn through Sylvia Johnson’s invitation.

"Sherilyn, you must come, dear. We should have a proper family dinner."

"Got it, Sylvia." Sherilyn didn’t hesitate to accept.

When she arrived, Francis and Sylvia were nowhere to be seen, but Gilbert was out on the patio, smoking.

Recalling Caleb's words, Sherilyn felt a bit uneasy. Could it be that Gilbert had really blacklisted Vincent for her?

Before she could ponder further, Caroline descended the staircase, heading straight for the patio.

"Gilbert, why did you do it?" Caroline frowned, clearly displeased.

"Do what?" Gilbert flicked ash from his cigarette, puzzled. What had he done now?

"Vincent!"

Caroline dropped the name like a bombshell. "My charity PSA was halfway done, and now the producer is gone? Vincent got blacklisted by you?"

"Oh, him," Gilbert nodded slightly. "Yes, that's true."

His casual tone only frustrated Caroline further.

"Didn’t you know I was working with him? He was funding the PSA!"

With the blacklist in effect, the PSA was as good as dead.

"Caroline," Gilbert’s brow furrowed as he took a deep drag of his cigarette, "Is Vincent really the kind of guy you want to work with? Have you forgotten how he treated you?"

"Treated me?"

Caroline recalled, "You mean, how he hugged me at the project launch party?"

Gilbert didn’t confirm nor deny, "I told you back then not to collaborate with someone who can't keep his hands to himself."

"You..." Caroline was at a loss for words. "He might have been inappropriate, but he didn’t really do anything to me, did he?"

Indeed, he hadn’t done anything to Caroline. But he hurt Sherilyn!

Yet, Gilbert couldn’t say that out loud.

All he could say was, "Should we wait until he actually does something before we act?"

---

"Caroline," Gilbert's tone darkened, "Francis is awake now. If he found out about this, believe me, he’d be far less forgiving than I."

At that, Caroline fell silent.

To outsiders, Francis always appeared gentle and easygoing. But those close to him knew that his gentleness was exactly why he was not to be trifled with.

A gentle man couldn't possibly run the Johnson family.

Reading Caroline's expression, Gilbert tried to console her, "It’s just one PSA. If you still want to shoot it, we can make it happen later."

---

Sherilyn didn’t catch the rest of their conversation, as she no longer cared.

She clutched her chest, breathing a sigh of relief. Thank goodness!

She had thought so. How could Gilbert do this for her?

Of course, it was for Caroline! That made sense! That was the logical explanation!

Once again, she was basking in Caroline's light.

Feeling much lighter, Sherilyn briskly made her way inside.

At that moment, Sylvia was keeping Francis company in the parlor.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g