The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 501

Seeing how much weight Petty had lost, and knowing full well what had transpired between the couple, he sighed heavily. "You've been through too much, sweetheart. Get some rest. Healing up is the only thing that matters right now. I brought some soup—go back to your room and eat while it's hot."

Petty nodded, forcing a polite expression. "Thank you, Grandpa."

"You!" Arthur barked, whipping his head toward Franco. His tone shifted completely. "Get your ass in here!"

Franco didn't let go of Petty's hand. He lazily lifted his eyes. "Wait. I'm taking her back to her room first."

Without giving the old man a chance to argue, he firmly guided her down the hall.

Sure enough, an insulated thermos was resting beside her bed. After easing Petty onto the mattress, Franco unscrewed the lid and ladled a small bowl of soup. He stirred it carefully to make sure it wasn't too hot before handing it to her.

He pulled up a chair and watched her eat.

She was perfectly quiet, barely making a sound as she sipped.

She was calm and compliant, yet she felt nothing like the Petty he used to know.

Seeing her so distant left a suffocating weight in his chest, a heavy ache that he couldn't shake off.

When she lowered her spoon, he grabbed a tissue and gently dabbed a drop of broth from the corner of her mouth.

"The doctors cleared you to recover at home, but I figured you'd rather stay close to Abacus, so I haven't filed the discharge paperwork yet."

She gave a silent nod.

Franco clenched his fists slightly as she finally spoke. "Grandpa is waiting for you."

She didn't look up. She refused to even meet his eyes.

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