Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

"Rebecca."

Francis couldn't help but soften his tone. "James misses you. He's been asking about you, Ms. White. You care about him, don't you?"

Rebecca White parted her lips slightly, unable to muster a rebuttal.

Francis pressed on, "The one who messed up is me, I'm the jerk... but James is innocent in all of this."

"I woke up a year ago and found him at the orphanage," he explained. "The director said he's been adopted twice and returned both times... James is four now. Before he turned three, his life was nothing but instability. No one loved him..." Rebecca White closed her eyes tightly, tears brimming, wetting her lashes.

Francis gently held her wrist, trying to guide her toward the car. "Come back with me. James is waiting for you."

This time, Rebecca White didn't resist. James was the softest spot in her heart, and just the thought of him could easily bring her to her knees.

Silently, she followed Francis into the car and they headed to the Johnson Mansion.

As soon as they entered the foyer, they heard James' sweet, childish voice.

"Is it Ms. White?"

"Yes, it is," answered the housekeeper.

"Ms. White!" James exclaimed as he ran toward the door, and upon seeing Rebecca White, he leaped excitedly into her arms.

"Careful!"

Rebecca White's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly reached out to catch him.

The little boy's impact was stronger than she expected, and she almost lost her balance. Fortunately, Francis was right behind her, steadying her with a hand on her back.

Looking down at the little guy in her arms, James' big eyes curved into crescents. "Ms. White! You're here!"

Everything felt different now. Seeing James again filled Rebecca White's heart with both warmth and ache. This was her child.

"Ms. White," James pouted, sounding a bit aggrieved, "You haven't been here for two days."

He sneaked a glance at Francis, nestled into her embrace, and softly complained, "Dad's been so strict. He doesn't help with my homework and says I'm too slow... hmph."

en FindNovel

"I'm sorry," Rebecca White said, planting a gentle kiss on James' chubby cheek. "Ms. White wasn't feeling well the past couple of days."

It wasn't exactly a lie.

"Ms. White was sick?" James looked up, his small brows knit in concern. "Did you take medicine? Are you better now?"

"I'm all better," Rebecca White assured him with a smile, carrying James upstairs.

With their heads close together, mother and son whispered to each other, leaving Francis behind.

...

As usual, Rebecca White came out of James' room at the same time and headed downstairs.

Predictably, Francis was waiting for her.

"Mr. Johnson," Rebecca White spoke first this time. "Can we talk?"

Francis was taken aback, pleasantly surprised. "Of course."

They sat across from each other in a cozy corner of the living room.

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"Rebecca, Francis began, placing a warm drink in front of her. He took a deep breath, "I owe you an apology. If you hate me or blame me, understand."

Rebecca White didn't deny it. "To say I don't hate you or blame you would be a lie."

But with a resigned sigh, she added, "That night, I did walk into the wrong room."

If it came to responsibility, she wasn't entirely blameless either.

Francis' eyes lit up, as if he saw a glimmer of hope.

"Mr. Johnson," Rebecca White continued with a slight tug at her lips, "Even though I'm James' mother, you don't have to feel obligated to be with me out of a sense of duty."