The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 323

She couldn’t let Franco know that she’d known from the very beginning the bracelet was Petty’s mother’s. If he ever found out, he’d realize the real reason she asked for it was to get under Petty’s skin.

Franco paused on the paperwork, then looked up at her. His eyes were dark and deep, unreadable. “You knew what wasn’t the original?”

“Just that… it wasn’t the same one,” Laura said, trying her best to sound disappointed. “So it was switched out, huh? Any idea who did it?”

“No,” Franco said as he finished signing and reached for the glass of water Jay had just handed over. He took a slow sip before setting it aside and standing up. “You should rest early.”

He was really leaving already?

Laura reached out almost on instinct, her fingers brushing the hem of his coat. Franco glanced down, eyebrows knitting. Laura’s hand froze in midair and she quickly let go.

“I haven’t seen you for days. Can’t you stay and talk with me a little longer?” she asked quietly.

Franco’s voice was cool as always. “Didn’t you faint not long ago? Go get a proper checkup the day after tomorrow. I’ll send a car for you.”

Laura watched him walk out, her eyes starting to sting with tears she refused to let fall. She had to take a slow, deep breath, biting back the urge to call him back.

She knew Franco liked people who followed the rules.

She looked down at the ruby bracelet on her wrist. Disappointment tangled up with anger inside her, tight and overwhelming. When she’d asked Franco for it, he’d given it over without a second thought. Was it because she’d saved him once, or had he known all along it wasn’t really Petty’s mother’s?

If it wasn’t the real thing, what was the point in wearing it at all?

Laura grabbed one end of the bracelet, about to yank it off.

Then she suddenly stopped.

She remembered the night at the hospital, when Hassan was sick. She’d run into Petty outside. The lights out there were dim, Petty was far enough away that she’d mistaken Laura’s bracelet for her mother’s. Laura had even asked Franco, right in front of Petty, if he wanted to give the bracelet to her.

Franco wiped his hands clean with a fresh tissue. “Get some supplies ready,” he told Jay. “You can’t just rely on written descriptions for injuries.”

Jay barely blinked. That kind of comment, cryptic as it was, had become something he’d just gotten used to.

***

The next morning, Petty slid into the passenger seat.

Aaron gripped the wheel, hesitating for a second before glancing over. “Shouldn’t we let J know we’re stopping by? Just turning up might not be cool, you know. What if it’s a bad time?”

J was the loyal type, sure, but he was also the kind of guy who liked his own space—probably had a ton of habits nobody knew about. Plus, after what happened, not being able to look out for Petty would’ve dealt a blow to his pride. Aaron really thought a heads-up would be safer, just in case J wasn’t up for company.

Petty just put on her sunglasses, tilting her chin up. “Let’s just go. We’ll deal with it when we get there.”