The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 552

Hans strode over and took the phone from her hand, watching the clip of the little guy transitioning from a crawl to a shaky stand, then stumbling straight into Franco's waiting arms.

The video ended with Abacus crashing into Franco's legs, pulling a rare laugh from the man, but the overwhelming emotion on Franco's face was sheer relief.

Hans gently patted Petty's shoulder.

His heart broke for Petty, and it ached for Abacus, too.

She needed her son, and her son desperately needed her.

But in the throes of her illness, Petty was in no condition to be around the boy.

She suffered mental breakdowns, she self-harmed, and no one could guarantee she wouldn't lose control and traumatize the child.

Manley was so little. Every erratic word, every volatile action from Petty could severely impact his psychological development.

Neither Hans nor Franco could afford to gamble with Petty's life, or Manley's future.

He knew her tears were mostly born of guilt. "He's only a year and a half old," he comforted her. "There's a long life ahead of him. You'll be there for countless more of his firsts."

But his words only seemed to make the sting worse; Petty's eyes brimmed with fresh tears.

Hans crouched beside the window seat, looking up at her. "Trust me. Trust yourself. And more importantly, trust this doctor I found for you. Not only is he highly recommended and brilliantly skilled, but he's almost as handsome as I am."

"I don't need him to be handsome," Petty choked out, a broken little laugh escaping her lips as she indulged his attempt to lighten the mood.

But Hans knew she was incapable of a genuine smile right now.

"What, do you have a thing for ugly guys?" Hans teased, feigning disgust.

Petty didn't answer. Because when Hans joked about ugly guys, Franco's strikingly handsome face flashed in her mind—the absolute polar opposite of ugly.

A heavy silence settled between them.

Just as Hans felt his legs falling asleep and shifted to stand, Petty hit him with a sudden question. "Did you quit acting?"

Over the years, he had quietly donated every single cent of his acting fortune.

Some went to impoverished rural areas, some to global disaster zones, and a massive chunk went toward charities feeding starving children in Africa.

Petty knew all of this.

Out of everyone in their elite social circles, Hans was one of the very few whose soul remained utterly pure.

Hans reached out and ruffled Petty's hair. "So your favorite buddy is officially unemployed. You better heal up fast so you can build a nest egg to support me."

He was the Green family's second son. The quarterly dividends from their corporate empire were more than he could spend in a lifetime.

He hardly needed her financial support.

A lump formed in Petty's throat, and her eyes misted over. Unable to speak, she just gave his wrist a grateful pat.

Hans suddenly winced. "Ah, damn it, my legs are completely asleep..."