The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 117

Petty spotted it right away. The sapphire brooch from The Eminence auction, the one that used to be hers.

The moment she held the brooch, she was pulled back to that gray, sunless afternoon. Franco’s face had been smeared with blood, eyes closed, trapped in the wrecked car. For a moment, she really thought she was losing everything that mattered.

Her heart squeezed tight, the memory rushing back so hard it almost hurt to breathe. She closed her eyes, gripping the brooch in her palm until the edges pressed painfully into her skin. The fear from that day still lingered deep inside her.

She knew exactly who had slipped the box into her bag. Maybe he’d done it last night in the car, or maybe he’d come into her room after she fell asleep. Either way, it could only be him.

The sharp petals of the brooch snapped her back to reality. She opened her eyes and placed the brooch gently back in its delicate wooden box. The faint, woody scent rising from it reminded her so much of Franco that her chest ached all over again.

It was Saturday, but thanks to the holiday work schedule, she had to go into the office. Petty set the box down on her nightstand and forced herself to get up, wash her face, and get dressed. She couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling clinging to her. Maybe it was the weird dream, or maybe it was just the brooch.

She managed to knock over her toothbrush cup while brushing her teeth. Then she caught her collarbone on her zipper, hissing in pain. The whole morning felt off, like the universe was nudging her.

After that clumsy scramble, she grabbed her bag and left her room. The wooden box stayed quietly on the nightstand.

Downstairs, Susan had already made breakfast. The table was full of all her favorite things, like Susan knew exactly what she needed. Petty hadn’t tasted Susan’s cooking in days, and she never let herself skip a good meal. She sat down and took her time, enjoying every bite.

“Susan, why don’t you quit this job and come with me? I’ll take care of you when you’re old, promise.”

Susan just smiled and shook her head. “Why are you talking about quitting? I’m here for you and Mr. Franco. You two are a couple, I’ll look after both of you.”

Petty grinned, spooning seafood porridge into her mouth. “Nope, you have to pick. If Franco and I both fell in the water, who would you save first?”

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