Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

"Whoa..." Galen was taken aback for a moment, looking a bit dazed. "Hi, Ms. Cooper!"

He quickly put his phone away. "Where's your luggage?"

"Haven't picked it up yet."

"Let me get it for you!"

Joyce raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, that'd be really helpful."

"No problem at all!"

Galen dashed off to the baggage claim area.

Joyce was returning from abroad and had quite a bit of luggage. It was a good thing Galen had come to help; after all, men tend to be stronger. "Ms. Cooper, take a look."

Galen placed the suitcases neatly on the luggage cart. "Is everything here? Did we miss anything?"

"Let me check..."

Joyce inspected her bags and smiled. "All here, nothing missing."

"Great."

Galen grinned, relieved. He pushed the cart. "Let's get going. My car's in the underground garage."

"Sounds good."

Once they reached the garage, Galen gestured for Joyce to get in the car.

"Ms. Cooper, why don't you hop in first? It's cooler inside."

The garage didn't have air conditioning and felt like a giant oven during the summer.

"Sure thing."

Joyce got into the car while Galen went to the back to load the luggage into the trunk.

As she settled in, Joyce received a call from Sherilyn.

"Did you pick her up?"

"Yes, I did," Joyce replied with a smile. "Your brother's quite something."

"Yeah..." Sherilyn said. "Get yourself settled first, then we can plan a meet-up." "Alright."

After hanging up, Galen got back in the car.

Seeing him all sweaty, Joyce handed him a tissue. "Here, wipe off the sweat."

"Thank you, Ms. Cooper."

"Ah."

Joyce couldn't help but chuckle. "Ms. Cooper' sounds so formal. Since you're Sherilyn's brother, you're younger than me. If you don't mind, just call me Joy." Galen hesitated, feeling a bit resistant for some reason.

"Or I could just call you Joy? Is that okay?"

"Huh?" Joyce paused, then laughed

"Does

Low The valeat

me 'sis' feel like

in

taking advantage?" belongs

Having spent years abroad, she was used to more informal terms.

"Alright, Joy it is."

"Joy."

And just like that, the name stuck.

Galen asked, "Am I taking you home?"

"No," Joyce shook her head. "I've rented a place. Just drop me off there." "Got it."

...

Sherilyn wrapped up filming earlier than usual today.

Unexpectedly, Gilbert also finished

Pse she stepped out of the

swno

dressing room, he was just arriving.

"You're early?"

"I have something tonight."

Gilbert took

and

e and have dinner W

you

head her hand. "But first, let's enna. I missed her last

"Let's go then."

His thoughtfulness towards Jenna and her made Sherilyn happy.

Back at Blue Haven.

Jenna was covered in mud as she ran over to them. "Mommy, Mr. Gilbert!"

"Oh my!"

Gilbert crouched down to catch her. "Let's see, who's this little mud monkey?"

"I'm not a mud monkey!"

Jenna protested, "It's me, Jenna!"

"Is that so? Let me take a closer look..."

Gilbert lifted her up, not minding the mud she was smearing on him.

Sherilyn watched with a soft smile.

"It really is our Jenna!"

"Yes, it is, hehe..."

Holding his daughter, Gilbert glanced at Sherilyn and squeezed Jenna's little hand. "Jenna, let me ask you, if I were to marry your mom, would you be okay with that?" Sherilyn froze, instinctively holding her breath.

It was so sudden, catching her completely off guard.