The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 326

In the sleek, monochrome apartment, Franco felt his phone vibrate in his left pocket.

He’d finished the rice in his bowl, picked at about half the food on his plate. Setting his chopsticks down, he placed them right next to a fake scar he’d just peeled off from the corner of his mouth. The prosthetic was stuck so tight, he could barely eat with it on.

Jay always got the job done, sometimes a bit too well. Still, Franco couldn’t really complain. Not when someone was this dedicated.

He pulled out his phone and glanced at the caller ID. Just one look and his mood shifted. It was the first time this number had called since things went sideways yesterday.

He swiped to answer, voice steady. “Sebastian.”

On the other end, Sebastian’s gentle tone came through. “Have you eaten lunch?”

Franco let out a low “yeah.” In the entire White family, only Sebastian still lived at the White Estate. He was Franco’s uncle, his father’s younger brother, and honestly the softest of them all.

Family mattered, and Franco didn’t see the point in making things ugly. Whatever was between them, he wouldn’t take it too far.

But Sebastian… he could run a business, no question. Raising a kid, though, was another story. He just didn’t have it in him.

“You’re here to ask for Owen, aren’t you?”

Sebastian’s hand started shaking.

He hadn’t slept a wink last night. The more he thought about how he’d tried to teach Owen over the years, the more ashamed he felt, especially now, after what Owen had done—dragging the White family’s name through the mud. He spent half the night on his knees in front of their ancestor’s plaques, just hoping to find a little forgiveness.

He’d told Nanette before—Owen was a disgrace, an outcast. They couldn’t get involved, couldn’t even pretend to have a son like him anymore.

But Nanette had someone check in on Owen at the detention center. First thing this morning she called, her voice trembling, trying not to cry as she told him Owen had passed out with a high fever, bruised all over. She wanted to know if there was any way Sebastian could ask Franco for help.

But Franco’s voice came back cold, nothing like the man Sebastian remembered. “He messed with the wrong person. I spared him by not putting a bullet in his head. Just pretend you never had that son. Later, I’ll look after you myself.”

“Franco…”

Sebastian wanted to say more, but the call was already over. Franco had hung up.

He sat by the window in his rocker, sighing nonstop. The more he thought about what Nanette said about Owen, the more his eyes burned, close to tears.

The sound of high heels echoed closer. He looked up to see Nanette walking in, her eyes already red. “Did you call Franco?” she asked.

Sebastian’s brows knit together. “He said no.”

“You’re his uncle. You mean nothing to him anymore?” Nanette tried to keep it together, voice strained. “If you’re desperate, bring up Vance and Bonnie. Franco won’t be able to say no if you do.”