The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 264

Petty’s vision swam, her whole world fading to black as she dropped onto the chair, numb and lost. A shrill ringing buzzed in her ears, mixing with the dizziness until she could barely hear her own breath.

Laura. It was Laura all along.

Why would she want Susan dead?

If Parrish’s people could force the truth out, Franco definitely could. Hell, Franco did the questioning himself, which meant he'd been suspicious way before Parrish got involved. Maybe he’d known for ages.

Yet he just stood by and let them drag Susan away, trying to protect Laura.

If Hans hadn’t stepped in yesterday and taken that knife for her, she’d be the one fighting for her life in the emergency room. Maybe she’d be gone already.

Petty’s cheeks burned as her eyes filled with tears. A bitter laugh escaped before she could stop it. Her whole body shook as silent tears splashed to the floor.

The doors to the emergency room swung open.

Petty rushed over, swiping away her tears. Hans lay there, finally blinking awake, his skin ghostly pale. He tried to lift the corners of his mouth, trying to smile at her, like everything was fine.

He couldn’t even get the words out. He was that weak.

This was Hans—the wildest soul in Cabinda, the one everyone flocked to, always laughing and shining brighter than anyone.

Something knotted in Petty’s chest, all tight and painful, like she might pass out right there.

“It’s okay, Hans. You’re okay,” she whispered, brushing his hair back as tears threatened to spill again.

I’ll make Laura pay for every drop of blood you lost, Hans. She won’t get away with any of it.

They rolled Hans’s bed into the elevator. The nurses and Parrish walked alongside. Hans’s lips fluttered, trying to say something, so Parrish leaned down to catch the words.

The elevator doors slid shut. Petty didn’t follow. Instead, she turned and stepped into the elevator across the hall, going downstairs alone.

The city was still grey and cold, the same dreary weather as yesterday.

But Laura had never had anything like that.

“I’ll make arrangements and have it removed after the Lantern Festival. Honestly, I always thought it blocks too much light,” the housekeeper agreed, eager to please.

Laura’s lips curled in satisfaction.

There was a brief pause. “Should we check with Mr. Franco before cutting it down?” the housekeeper asked. Laura could tell she knew the house still technically belonged to Franco.

Laura’s grip on her spoon tightened. “No need to bother him with something so minor.”

Even if she did it, what could Franco say? He’d let her have the house as soon as she asked, back when she returned home.

The housekeeper nodded. “Of course.”

Laura set her spoon down, picked up her napkin, and dabbed at the corner of her mouth. Her tone was flat, almost bored. “I’m done. I don’t want any more.”