The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 25

Petty’s mind drifted to the divorce papers tucked away in the study at Misty Vale, her thoughts slipping somewhere far away.

Owen squinted at her, his tone half teasing and half serious. “I honestly can’t figure out what kind of magic Franco has over you.”

Petty pressed her teeth into the inside of her cheek. Sometimes she wondered the same thing herself. What spell had Franco worked on her, exactly? All these years, her feelings had never changed. Even after three years of marriage where they felt more like strangers than partners, she’d never once truly thought about giving up.

But now, she was done holding on. It was Franco himself who finally crossed the line and snapped that last bit of hope inside her.

She thought about her name, about the story her parents always told her. Petty, they’d said, meant partnership. A couple pulling the weight of life together, side by side, proof of a deep and lasting love. It was never supposed to mean clinging or begging someone to stay.

Now Franco was in control. Laura was back in the country. Even if Laura couldn’t walk, if Franco wanted her, nobody in the White family would dare stand in his way. Marrying Laura was just a matter of time.

Petty was lost in her own head, barely noticing how Owen inched closer, until his breath brushed her cheek. “Petty, I’ll be here the day you realize you made a mistake.”

She snapped out of her daze, ready to stomp on Owen’s foot, when suddenly the parlor door slammed open from the outside.

Not gently opened, but shoved. The door crashed against the wall with a loud bang, making Petty’s heart jump.

A rush of icy air swept into the room, blowing away all the warmth in an instant.

Owen lifted an eyebrow, glancing at the man standing in the doorway’s bright light. Franco stood there, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette.

Smoke curled through his fingers, making his slender hand look almost unreal, like something out of a cold, misty forest.

“Franco, you’re here?” Owen greeted him with an easy smile.

As soon as Petty saw Franco, a heavy feeling settled in her chest. She didn’t even look up, just started heading for the door.

But right as she passed by, Franco caught her by the arm.

“Where are you going?”

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