Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Francis' gaze sharpened, a sense of urgency tightening in his throat.

He glanced at Caroline, hesitating as if he had something to say but eventually remained silent and turned to leave.

Caroline's eyes widened in shock, her voice raising in anger, "Francis! You stop right there!"

Hearing her, Francis paused, turning back with a look of conflict and difficulty.

"Francis!"

Caroline took a step forward, gripping his arm tightly, her eyes swelling with tears as she slowly shook her head, the words forcing their way out between clenched teeth.

"You, can't, go!"

"Caroline..." Francis frowned, looking steadily at her.

Finally, he lifted his hand, gently removing hers. "We'll talk about us... when I get back."

Caroline stumbled backward, taking a couple of steps back.

Francis gave her one last look before he walked away.

"Francis! Francis!"

Behind him, Caroline was nearly in tears.All content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

"What on earth is going on?"

Sylvia quickly came to her aid. She was completely in the dark, unable to piece together the full truth from the snippets she heard.

"Grandma!"

Caroline clutched Sylvia's arm, tears welling up in her eyes, "I have to see what he's been doing behind my back!"

...

In the car.

"Mr. Francis," Sawyer quickly noticed, "Ms. Bet is following us."

Francis remained silent, his expression unchanged, "Let her follow."

"Yes."

Following Sawyer's lead, they drove to the orphanage.

It turned out, the orphanage director had called them, informing them that the child had run back there.

The child was just three years old, and thanks to his good health and looks, he never lacked adoption offers. However, the child's luck wasn't the best.

The first family who adopted him returned him to the orphanage six months later when they had a child of their own.

Then, he was adopted by a second family.

But a year later, the couple had marital issues, went through a divorce, and once again, he was returned to the orphanage.

It was after this return that Sawyer found him.

Being so young and having been abandoned at the orphanage, on top of being returned twice, the child's psyche had taken a significant blow.

When Francis came to take him from the orphanage, the director hesitated greatly.

"Mr. Francis, please think it over. Raising a kid is a really noble thing to do, and it's good for both the child and you."

The implication was clear: if he wasn't planning on keeping the child forever, he shouldn't take him.

The child had already been returned

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twice. His naturally vibrant and cheerful nature had turned silent and withdrawn; he couldn't withstand a third abandonment.

Francis reassured the director, "Don't worry. From today, when I take him, he's my child."

He provided the child with the best material life and hired someone to look after him.

Yet, he hadn't expected the child to run back to the orphanage...

Upon arriving at the orphanage, the director was already waiting.

"Mr. Francis."

Francis nodded slightly, not seeing the child yet, his expression not softening in the slightest. He vaguely realized he had neglected the child's emotional needs.

"Where's the child? Is he alright?"

"He's inside, eating."

In the room, the three-year-old sat on a wooden step-chair.

He was too small for running back to the orphanage to be an easy feat. From escaping Pinecrest Villa to finally finding his way just a while ago.

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His clothes were dirty, and his little face was smudged with grime.

Tired and hungry, a plate of cookies given by the director sat in front of him, the little one devouring them eagerly. At that sight, Francis felt a pang of emotion well up in his throat.