The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 567

Since she was staying the night, she obviously couldn't sleep in a Santa suit.

"Your clothes are in—"

Just as Franco was about to tell her that her wardrobe was still perfectly preserved in the master bedroom's walk-in closet, Petty pulled out her phone and checked the time.

Her thumbs flew across the screen as she typed a quick reply. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

Franco's eyes darkened slightly. "Your clothes are in the closet."

Petty waved it off nonchalantly. "Oh, it's fine. I don't want my old clothes anyway. Someone's dropping off my luggage."

"Didn't he say he was almost here? What's taking so long?" she muttered to herself, already turning and heading for the front door.

Franco watched her back. He was just about to step after her when his phone rang.

It was Jay.

"Boss, Hans is at the gate." The security detail had radioed Jay. Since Petty had just returned to Misty Vale, Jay hadn't been sure if he should clear the visitor without permission.

So that was who was delivering the clothes.

Franco gripped his phone, his peripheral vision catching Petty standing out on the porch, peering eagerly down the tree-lined driveway.

"Let him through."

*I don't want my old clothes anyway.*

The words echoed in Franco's head, and he lowered his eyes, a self-deprecating smirk touching his lips.

What the hell was he so confident about? She was only staying the night at Misty Vale for the kid.

"Wait inside. They'll be here in a minute," he said, stepping up beside her and angling his broad shoulders to block the biting winter wind.

The heating inside had been cranked up, and after drinking all that hot water, she had to be sweating. Stepping directly into the freezing outdoors was a recipe for catching a cold.

Petty kept her hands shoved in the pockets of the Santa suit, rocking back and forth on her heels. Her clean, makeup-free face was bright, her eyes clear. "It's fine, I can wait myself. You should go back inside before you catch a chill. You're barely wearing anything."

Franco stared at her profile. The words were caring, but the tone was painfully distant.

A sharp chill sliced through his chest.

Petty watched him dramatically drag the suitcase and rolled her eyes.

"Where's my nephew?" he asked.

"Already asleep," Petty replied without looking back. "I'll bring him to see you tomorrow."

She immediately bypassed Hans and walked straight to the passenger side of his car.

The window rolled down.

A bright smile broke across Petty's face, and she quickened her pace. "You came too?"

Hans didn't linger after dropping off the bag. Petty had come straight to Misty Vale after her flight, meaning she hadn't gotten any real rest. He ordered her to go to bed early and drove off.

Up on the second floor, Franco stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows. He released his grip on the curtain, letting the fabric fall shut, plunging the bedroom back into absolute darkness.

His silhouette seemed to melt into the shadows of the room.

Who was the man sitting in the passenger seat?