The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 581

Parrish realized he shouldn't have even bothered asking. After all, his younger brother's heart, mind, and soul were entirely occupied by Petty.

As Parrish reached for the glass of clearly cold water on the table, Hans spoke up. "Don't drink it if it's cold."

He turned his head and ordered a passing maid, "Go pour a fresh glass of hot water."

Hearing Parrish cough again, Hans straightened up from where he was leaning against the doorframe. "If you're sick, just get some damn rest. I've spent the last few months studying corporate management and finance. I officially start at the company the day after tomorrow to share the load. It'll give you one less thing to worry about."

Taking the fresh glass of hot water from the maid, Hans held his breath, strode quickly into the room, slammed the glass down on the coffee table, and immediately power-walked back out into the hallway.

Just as he reached the door, he heard Parrish's steady, calm voice. "You've never really given me much to worry about."

It was the truth.

With their parents gone for years, Parrish had practically raised Hans himself.

Growing up, Hans had always seemed like a rebellious kid with a razor-sharp tongue, but in reality, he rarely caused any actual trouble.

He was fiercely independent and knew exactly where the lines were drawn. Before doing anything, he always considered the family's standing. He never abused the fact that his powerful older brother was there to clean up his messes.

The only truly out-of-line thing he had ever done was orchestrating that fake paparazzi scandal with Petty. When Petty had been crying in absolute panic, he hadn't even given Parrish a heads-up before publicly declaring himself her "boyfriend" to shield her.

But to Parrish, even that was barely a blip on the radar.

"Don't go out tonight. Stay and have dinner with me," Parrish said, taking a sip of the hot water.

"Alright," Hans agreed.

He headed downstairs and took a call from Aaron.

"Boss, the item is finished. Where should I bring it?"

"Bring it to the main estate. I'm here. Let me take a look at it first."

Less than half an hour later, Aaron walked into Hans's room carrying a heavy wooden box with one hand. Hans was sitting on the sofa, flipping through a massive stack of photo albums.

"Put it on the table." Hans set down the heavy albums.

Aaron set the box down with a thud. "What exactly is in here, Boss?"

Hans unlatched the lock and flipped the lid open.

"A gift for Petty's baby," he told Aaron.

Hans desperately wanted to tell her she was out of her mind, but he was worried she'd just double down on her blind confidence if he phrased it too gently.

He let out a heavy sigh. "The kid barely survived his illness. Please don't kill him."

Petty paused for a few seconds. She glanced in the rearview mirror at Manley, who was happily playing with the pocket watch Cavanaugh had given him in his car seat.

Looking back at the road, she told Hans, "Are you seriously suggesting I'd poison my own son?"

Back at Misty Vale, Petty handed Manley over to Jackson and marched straight into the kitchen.

She tied on an apron with one hand while scrolling through recipes on her phone with the other. Once she had a game plan, she confidently marched over to the fridge and began pulling out ingredients.

General, the dog, wagged his tail as he watched her every move.

He looked back over his shoulder at the innocent little boy playing on the sofa, then slowly turned his head back to stare at the blindly confident woman in the kitchen.

Night finally fell. The familiar roar of a car engine echoed from the courtyard.

General's bright eyes widened. He whipped around and sprinted out of the living room, barking wildly at Franco the moment the man stepped out of his car.