Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

At the doorway, Francis turned to look at Rebecca White.

"Hop in, I'll take you home first."

"I..." Rebecca White hesitated, about to refuse.

"Sis! Get in!" James chimed in eagerly, "I'll take you!"

"Sis?" Francis raised an eyebrow, glancing at his son, and corrected him, "You shouldn't call her sis."

She's actually your mom. Calling her sis mixes up the generations, doesn't it?

"Why?" James looked puzzled, "But she is my sis."

Francis was momentarily speechless, choosing not to explain and simply conceding, "Whatever you say." James waved his little arms, "Sis, get in, get in!"

"...Alright then." Rebecca White could refuse Francis, but for some reason, she couldn't say no to James.

She smiled and agreed, "Thank you, James."

"You're welcome!"

James hopped off Francis and climbed into the back seat, waving her over, "Sis, come on in!"

"Okay."

Rebecca White smiled as she got into the car.

A resigned Mr. Francis could only take the passenger seat.

As the car pulled away, the once lively James snuggled into Rebecca White's arms and soon fell asleep.

"Hmph."

Francis, observing from the rearview mirror, scoffed lightly, "Little rascal... Sorry to trouble you."

The latter part was directed at Rebecca White.

"It's no trouble at all."

Rebecca White shook her head softly, whispering.

Francis looked at Rebecca White through the rearview mirror, silently pondering if this was fate. He had already given up on the idea of them recognizing each other as mother and son. Yet, unexpectedly, they met on their own... Rebecca White, on the other hand, was reflecting on what James had said earlier, about not having a mom...

Sherilyn had once mentioned that Francis's child wasn't Caroline's. They split up, apparently because James and Caroline didn't get along...

Previously, Francis had confessed his feelings to her, even saying he would wait for her to get a divorce...

But he never mentioned James.

Could it be that he never considered James might not like her either?

However, she had already rejected him, and he had let go quite easily. There was no need to delve into this matter anymore...

The car stopped at Sunset Ridge Community. Francis dropped Rebecca White off at her building.

"Go on in, you've had a long day."

"No worries." Rebecca White smiled. and shook her head, "I just happened to be there; anyone else would've done the same. Thanks for the ride."

"Sure."

Francis nodded, watching her walk away. Maybe anyone else would've helped, but... it was her.

...

On the road back to the Johnson Mansion, before they reached the estate, James woke up.

Waking up to find Rebecca White gone, he immediately pouted, "Where's sis?"

Francis glanced at him, stating the truth, "She went back to her place."

"What?" James was shocked and quite upset, "How come I didn't know?"

"Because you were asleep."

"Dad!" James frowned, complaining, "Why didn't you wake me up? I didn't even say goodbye to sis!" Francis raised an eyebrow, as if to say it was his fault?

"That's on you. You didn't ask me beforehand to wake you up, so I didn't feel the need to."

Humph! James glared and turned his small body away, facing his back towards his dad. He was mad!

Francis just scoffed lightly, not bothering to coddle him, letting him stew in his feelings. Instead, he probed about another matter, "Why did you run out of school today?"

He had checked with the school. The school building was undergoing some construction work, and the surveillance footage showed James running out through a worker's entrance at the construction site.

"Let's hear the reason."

"Because..." James pursed his lips, "I didn't want to come home."

"Hm?" Francis was slightly taken aback, "Why not?"

Could it be he's not happy at home? Doesn't like him, or perhaps doesn't get along with his great-grandma? Or were the servants neglecting him?