Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

"Don't say that!" Gilbert shook his head urgently, interrupting her. "Saving Galen was for Jenna. Jenna is my daughter, and anything I do for her is what I should do."

"Right..." Sherilyn nodded with a smile. "You're right. Jenna would be thrilled to know how much you care about her."

She paused, then shifted the topic. "I've had a misunderstanding these past few days... I thought... you had abandoned Jenna."

That was the truth. She really had thought she was the only one worrying about Jenna...

"You're right, we're Jenna's parents. Our love for her is equal."

"I'm relieved to see you're okay." Sherilyn smiled softly, her hands clasped in front of her. "You need to get well soon. Jenna hasn't seen you in days... She's about to have surgery, and seeing you beforehand would definitely make her happy." "Sherilyn...?" Gilbert's unease grew more intense.

After a moment of silence, Sherilyn took a shallow breath and looked into his eyes. "For Jenna, did you... did you go back to the Harrison family?"

Gilbert stiffened, then nodded silently.

As expected. It wasn't hard to guess. From what Edgar had told her about the Harrison family going to great lengths to find Galen, she had guessed as much. She didn't know much about his situation, but she knew he didn't want to return to the Harrison family. Sherilyn pursed her lips, raising a wistful smile. "Then take care of yourself, okay?"

The Naylor family had six sons and three daughters. "His kids, really, they've done nothing but backstab feud, and betray each other." These were the words Gilbert had shared with her once during a chance encounter with Naylor at the hospital...

Thinking back, Gilbert's past injuries were always somehow connected to his siblings. Returning to the Harrison family meant a mix of wealth and danger for him... Whether his brothers and sisters would let bygones be bygones, and what his future would hold, were all unknowns...

"Sherilyn..." Gilbert's heart stirred. Was Sherilyn worried about him? His chest swelled, his throat tight, "Could you..."

He barely started speaking when Sherilyn cut him off. She smiled at him, closing off their previous conversation. "You've just woken up. You need your rest. I'll leave you be for now. When you're feeling better, go see Jenna." Gilbert's lips parted slightly, choked with unspoken words. A thousand thoughts at the tip of his tongue, but all he managed was a single, "Okay."

"Alright. I'll be going then."

With those words, Sherilyn turned away, not looking back as she walked out...

"Sherilyn, Sherilyn." Watching her retreating figure, Gilbert whispered her name almost inaudibly. What he hadn't finished saying was: "Sherilyn, could you... stay by my side? In the future, I'll protect you and Jenna just like this time."

But he couldn't say it. It was clear Sherilyn had no such intentions... Even coming to see him, she had been practically dragged by Naylor!

Sherilyn's love for him died the day he sent her away to Crestwood! The Sherilyn of now held no romantic feelings for him anymore. Saving Galen had earned him her kindness... But anything more was impossible. Gilbert closed his eyes tightly, thinking over Sherilyn's words... Every sentence she spoke was a message that between them, it was over...

"Sherilyn." Gilbert's eyes swelled with a sour tightness, murmuring, "I understand what you mean..."