The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 489

J quietly retreated, shutting the heavy door before making his way down to Franco's private suite.

Galen was pouring a glass of water for Franco when the door clicked open. He glanced over his shoulder. "Back so soon?"

J gave a curt nod and walked over to Franco's bedside. "The missus went upstairs. We took the same elevator."

Hearing this, Galen handed the water glass to Franco, intentionally stirring the pot. He smirked at the man who was propped up against the headboard, pretending to read a stack of documents. "So, Dr. Holt and Petty crossed paths?"

Ever since Petty had recovered her traumatic memories, Franco had purposefully kept his distance to avoid triggering her depression—except for the brief moment he took her to see Abacus yesterday. Because he knew she wanted to visit their son today, he was forcing himself to stay away, playing it cool in his room instead of chasing her upstairs.

"Harris is up there too," J added flatly.

Franco slowly turned a page of his document.

The sharp rustle of the paper echoed in the tense room. Galen sank into the chair beside him, eyeing how Franco's knuckles had turned stark white against the folder. "Careful, boss," Galen teased. "You're going to snap your own fingers."

In the next breath, Franco smoothly took the water glass from Galen's hand. Galen instinctively ducked, expecting Franco to throw the water right in his face. Instead, Franco casually took a sip, completely unfazed.

Galen raised an exaggerated eyebrow. "Wow. Have you finally seen the light? You're not losing your mind with jealousy?"

Franco ignored him.

"Well, I'll be damned. You've actually matured. No more crazy possessive streaks?"

Galen was stunned. He had been dead certain that the mere mention of Harris being upstairs with Petty would send Franco into a feral rage. Even though Harris was engaged to someone else, Franco's jealousy had never known bounds.

Franco calmly finished his water and set the glass on the nightstand. His expression remained utterly composed.

"J," Franco said smoothly.

Petty's fingers twitched at her sides. Her eyes remained quiet and solemn as she slowly nodded.

Harris knew her mental state was incredibly fragile. It broke his heart to realize the vivacious woman he loved had been diagnosed with severe clinical depression.

"Everything is going to be alright, Petty."

After speaking with Harris, Petty went to the locker room to sanitize and change before entering the isolation ward.

When she stepped inside the sterile bubble, Manley was fast asleep. Dr. Newell hadn't had the heart to tell her that the little boy had woken up crying in the middle of the night, but the dried tear tracks on his pale cheeks gave it away.

Petty pulled a chair up to his bedside. She sat in complete silence, simply memorizing every curve of his tiny face. She stayed right beside him, watching him breathe, until her allotted visitation time ran out and she was forced to leave.

As she stepped out of the isolation ward, the female doctor who had ridden the elevator with J happened to be walking in.