Chapter 28
The party had ended, but the storm outside had stranded some guests. Martha had arranged some guest rooms for overnight stays, and now everyone was gathering in the side room playing cards.
Squeezing her way in carefully, Martha whispered in Helen’s ear during the heated card game, “Franklin’s here. Are you going to meet him?”
“Now!” Helen asked.
“Yes, he’s in the living room right now,” Martha replied.
Glancing over at the guests around the table, Helen calmly drew a card and casually pushed it forward. Then she stood up, saying, “I just won this round. It’s time to call it a night, folks. Head back and rest early?
These were all wealthy ladies from Yaville who often played cards together, so they understood each other’s temperaments well. Judging from Helen’s demeanor, they knew that she had an important guest to receive,
It was raining outside, and the living room was chilly. Jerry shivered as he wiped the rain from Franklin’s face. “How come the Taylor family doesn’t even turn on the heater on such a cold day?”
“Why are you so full of complaints? Franklin pushed him away, grabbed the tissue paper, and quickly wiped his damp face. His skin was pale with a sickly hue from the cold, and he coughed several times, putting Jerry on edge.
He rushed to pat Franklin’s back. “I shouldn’t have taken you here if I had known. If you fall sick, Ms. Yvonne Jones will be all over me again.
Helen, unnoticed, had arrived and cleared her throat. “Did you get caught in the rain?” Her tone was caring, but Franklin felt a twinge of discomfort.
He turned his pale face and when he spotted Helen, he swiftly got to his feet. “Sorry for barging in so late. We got caught in traffic and ended up running late.”
“Yep, it’s pretty late.” Helen’s eyes scanned Franklin’s damp clothes. “You’re all wet. Why not switch into Lawson’s clothes and then join me for a chat
downstairs?”
Franklin sensed deeper meanings in Helen’s words. He knew that she was going to discuss the divorce matter with him. Franklin dropped his gaze, lost in thought, and stayed quiet for a while. When he looked up again, he casually asked. “Where’s Elizabeth? Didn’t see her.”
“She’s probably asleep by this time. After a moment’s pause, Helen added, hinting at Franklin through her words, “When she used to be with you. she’d wait up for you every night, wouldn’t she?”
For three years, Elizabeth had patiently waited for Franklin’s return every night. Now that she no longer waited, she could finally get some rest early, but here he was, causing a disruption once again.
“Never mind. Go change into clean clothes first, then go see her. After that, come see me. That should be fine, right?” Helen compromised for Elizabeth’s sake.
He nodded and followed Martha to Lawson’s room. He managed to find a clean and steady set of clothes from Lawson’s closet. Their sizes matched well and Franklin looked proper in what he wore.
Martha guided him towards Elizabeth’s room. “She’s asleep. Want me to wake her up?”
There was a cartoon sign hanging on the door, an item from Elizabeth’s childhood that her family used to appease her. It read “Sweetie Betty” Though an illegitimate child, she was cherished, and the past three years in the Jones residence had been a trial she’d never known before.
“No need. I’ll go in to talk to her,” Franklin sail
Martha hesitated briefly but then gave in. “Alright, once you’re done talking with Betty, remember to come out, okay?”
Franklin was briefly stunned, then he replied, “Understood”
He gently pushed open the door, finding everything inside decorated in an exceedingly childish manner.
The gauzy curtains were decorative but ineffective, allowing the faintest light to filter through. The breeze from outside stirred the fabric, casting a flickering light across Franklin’s face. He approached and stood by Elizabeth’s bed.
The walls shielded them from the pouring rain. The heavy sound of raindrops tumbled into the room. Every now and then, lightning streaked across, casting unpredictable shadows over Elizabeth’s calm face, blurring everything
She furrowed her brow repeatedly. Seemed like she was stuck in a bad dream, muttering muffled words in her sleep. Franklin wanted to wake her. his hand reaching for her shoulder, but instead, he tucked the blanket around her, leaning in to catch her murmurs.
The dark sky was suddenly lit up with a startling bolt of lightning, followed by a deafening crack that shuttered the silence, extinguishing the spark in Elizabeil’s heart. Startled, she abruptly woke up, letting out a sharp scream, “Wendell Evans!”
Chapter 98
The spark was snuffed out. She opened her eyes wide, expecting the person from her dream, but found Franklin there, about to kiss her. Their eyes met, filled with anxiety and panic.
The lightning and thunder faded away. Franklin’s brow creased in frustration and his tenderness disappeared. With a firm grip on Elizabeth’s chin, he raised it and said without emotions in his tone, “We’ve been married for three years, and every time you called out a name in your dreams, it was WendellTM
The pain in her jaw was sharp, but Elizabeth couldn’t resist. Franklin’s grip tightened, his voice growing colder. “Elizabeth, tell me, who is Wer
