Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Sherilyn watched Caroline's furious rant with a mixture of surprise and pity for Gilbert.

"Caroline, do you have a beef with Gilbert or something?" Sherilyn asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

"Excuse me?" Caroline responded, clearly taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

"No beef?" Sherilyn nodded, a mocking smile playing on her beautiful face. "Then, you're just being incredibly selfish. Let's be real, you've got two brothers falling over themselves for you, but you can only marry one... You can't have Gilbert, yet you can't stand to see him with someone else..." "Sherilyn! Shut up!" Caroline cut her off, her face flushed with anger. "What nonsense are you spewing? How can you say such filthy things? You have a dirty mind, seeing filth in everything! Gilbert and I grew up together, I want his happiness more than anyone!"

"Save your holier-than-thou act."

Sherilyn looked at her indifferently, her tone flat.

"If that was really how you felt, you wouldn't go around saying... he'll never stop thinking about you... to me."

The intent to stir the pot was clear as day to anyone listening.

"And you? Ha." Caroline scoffed, her laughter heavy with contempt. "What are you even?"

"Ah?" Sherilyn tilted her head, feigning confusion.

"Yeah, what am I, right? I'm just as puzzled. When Gilbert got hurt, he made sure to tell me... that he took that wound for me, not you. What do you make of that?"

With a smug smile, she flipped her hair and walked away.

Caroline stood there, stunned and speechless.

Did Gilbert really say that? Had he... fallen for Sherilyn?

...

Francis finished signing some documents and bumped into Sherilyn as he turned a corner.

"Sherilyn," he greeted, nodding politely, wanting to avoid going back to face Caroline.

"Sherilyn."

Francis glanced towards Caroline, then back at her. "Can we talk? I have something to say to you."

Sherilyn couldn't refuse her elder brother. "Of course, Francis."Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

"Follow me." He led her to a lounge.

"Here, Sherilyn." Francis got her a glass of water.

Sherilyn took it, cradling it in her hands. "Thank you, Francis."

"Don't mention it." Francis sat opposite her, silent for a moment, contemplating how to begin.

"Francis," Sherilyn started, feeling the need to apologize. "I'm sorry about today. It was my fault. I'm responsible."

Though it wasn't intentional, she had indeed caused harm to Gilbert, leading to his second surgery.

Francis paused, then shook his head.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to reprimand you. I don't know the full story nor do I have the right to blame you." Sherilyn's brow twitched, wondering what else Francis wanted to discuss.

"Sherilyn." Francis sighed deeply before speaking. "I can see there's some misunderstanding between you and Gilbert, mainly because of Caroline, right?" 

Sherilyn was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise.

This topic had always been taboo in the Johnson family, never openly discussed, especially in front of Francis.

"Relax," Francis chuckled at her defensive stance. "It's okay, I know everything. Including the rumors around Sunhaven, that the Johnson brothers fell for the same girl..." 

Sherilyn opened her mouth to speak but found herself at a loss for words.