Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?



"Mr. Johnson!"

Why on earth is he here now?

How did he just pop up out of nowhere?

It must be that he was intentionally keeping his distance. She had been tutoring at the Johnsons' for some time now, but she hadn't seen him around

even once.

"Ahem." Francis nodded slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing as he offered a half-smile, a silent reminder.

"Still holding on?"

It wasn't that he minded the embrace, but he was eager to get out of his rain-soaked coat. The rain outside was relentless, and the coat clung to him uncomfortably.

"Ah?!"

Rebecca White startled, suddenly realizing she was still holding onto him!

Oh, boy!

She quickly let go, standing up with her face flushed red. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"No worries."

Francis shook his head lightly, slipping out of his coat and tossing it casually onto the couch.

Smiling at her, he asked, "Playing with James?"

"Yes." Rebecca White nodded, still mortified.

"You two seem to get along well. James really likes you..."

"Ms. White! You didn't come find me."

James came running over, all huffy, and straightened up on seeing Francis.

"Dad, you're back."

"Yep." Francis was in a good mood, ruffling his son's hair. "Sorry to interrupt."

"Mr. Johnson..."

Rebecca White chuckled awkwardly, "I should be heading off, my shift is over."

"Ms. White is leaving."

James glanced out the window, then back at Francis.

"Dad, it's pouring. Maybe you could drive Ms. White?"

Francis glanced at Rebecca White, not hesitating. "Sure..."

He barely got the word out.

"No need!"

But Rebecca White quickly declined, smiling and shaking her head. "I'll take the subway, it's convenient."

As she spoke, she picked up her backpack from the couch. "I brought an umbrella, I won't get wet." "Alright then."

Seeing her insistence, Francis didn't push further, simply nodding and standing up. "I'll walk you out." "Thank you."

"I wanna come too!"

James, eager as ever, trailed behind Rebecca White like a little shadow.

The rain outside seemed to intensify.

Rebecca White pulled an umbrella from her bag, only to realize she was still holding onto Francis's scarf.

Handing it back to him with an awkward laugh, "Mr. Johnson, this is yours."

"Thanks." Francis nodded, accepting it.

"Well, I'm off then."

Rebecca White looked down at James, waving, "See you tomorrow, James."

"See you, Ms. White."

As Rebecca White was about to

leave, her phone rang. She picked it up with a sigh, "Hello? Yeah, I'm on my way to the subway... Okay, bye."

That tone...

So tender?

Swn

Francis frowned, feeling an uncomfortable twinge, hard to describe but unmistakably there.novelbin

Who was she talking to?

Without much thought, he blurted out, "Who was that?"

"Huh?" Rebecca White paused, almost not believing what she heard. Was he really asking her who she was on the phone with? But why would he ask that?

For a moment, Rebecca White didn't know how to respond.

"Cough."

Francis cleared his throat, realizing he might have overstepped.

His gaze shifted, quickly changing the subject, "The rain is heavy, be careful on the road."

"Yeah, I will."

Rebecca White smiled, opening her umbrella and stepping into the rain.

As soon as she left, James tugged on Francis's sleeve. "Dad."

Pouting, clearly upset.

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Francis knew exactly why his son was miffed, spreading

hands

helplessly, "It's not that I didn't want to drive her, she didn't want the ride."

"Then why couldn't you insist more?" James retorted.

"Insist?"

net

Francis chuckled, "You seem to know a lot. But, son... that tactic doesn't work on every woman. At your Ms. White isn't one for it."

"Hmph!"

James couldn't understand and remained annoyed.

Narrowing his eyes, he revealed, "Dad, I know who Ms. White was talking to on the phone."

With that, he turned and scampered off inside.