Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?
Chapter 417

Gilbert was struck silent. This was the first time, as far as he could remember, that Sherilyn had ever mentioned her mother in his presence. There was a hesitant pause before he spoke, "Your mom, she's buried here?"

"Yeah."

Sherilyn nodded, her gaze lingering on the hill ahead, silent and shrouded in sorrow.

Taking in her pale face, Gilbert quietly took her hand.

"Is today your mom's birthday, or is it... the anniversary of her passing?"

"Neither." Sherilyn shook her head, letting out a long sigh. "I just... missed her."

As she spoke, a quick mist clouded her eyes, turning them glossy.

Gilbert tightened his grip on her hand, "Let's go then."

The path up the hill was treacherous, but Gilbert led her, supporting her carefully.

"Careful, this way."

Holding onto his arm, Sherilyn stepped onto a flat stone and paused, looking up at him.

"Are we there?" Gilbert asked, puzzled.

"Gilbert." Sherilyn shook her head. "Wait here for me, please. Any further and my mom might see you."

What did she mean by that? Gilbert almost immediately grasped her meaning, but with it came an uncontrollable surge of anger!

"Sherilyn!" Too upset, he let go of Sherilyn and paced back and forth a few steps.

Stopping in front of her, he couldn't help but ask, "You don't want your mom to see me?"

"Yes." Sherilyn nodded, unflinchingly honest.

Facing the increasingly infuriated man, she was perplexed. "Are you angry?"

"Shouldn't I be?" Gilbert laughed bitterly, his face turning a shade of green. "Given our relationship, I've come all this way, and you're saying I shouldn't pay my respects to your mom?" "Our relationship?"

Sherilyn echoed him, her face expressionless.

"What are we? What am I to you? Your ex-husband? Your current boyfriend with a complicated heart?"

"Sherilyn..."

"Stop."

Sherilyn was tired and didn't want to argue. "My mom loved me a lot. Even in her last moments, she was worried about me... I don't want her to know my love life is such a mess." She lifted her face, her big eyes brimming with tears, looking utterly vulnerable.

"Didn't you say you'd be good to me from now on? Does that promise mean nothing now?"

Gilbert was at a loss for words. He had said that, but was it applicable in this situation?

Yet, faced with Sherilyn's tearful look, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"Wait here for me, please." Sherilyn spoke again, her voice soft and pleading.

"I'll be quick."

Suppressing his displeasure, Gilbert stiffly agreed, "Alright."

"Thank you."

He handed her the flowers, watching as she turned and walked away.

He felt a sudden urge to stealthily follow her...

But he only entertained the thought.

In Sherilyn's heart, he wasn't worthy enough to meet her mother. Whose fault was that? There was a time when he had been.

Back then, he was her husband.

But back then, he hadn't cared for such a privilege!

Regret was useless.

Someday, he vowed, he'd earn that privilege back!

Standing in front of the gravestone, Sherilyn paused for a moment, then knelt down, placing the two bouquets of flowers she had brought. The photo on the gravestone showed her mother in her youth.

Remembering the day her mother passed away...

No matter how many years went by, Sherilyn always felt a suffocating sensation, followed by a heart-wrenching pain!

If not for her, her mom wouldn't have...

"Mom, Mom."

Sherilyn lifted her hand, her fingertips gently tracing her mother's photo.

Her tears silently fell as she said, "Mom, I'm here to see you."

Guilt and longing, at that moment, overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

Sherilyn wrapped her arms around the gravestone as if embracing her mother, sobbing uncontrollably, "Mom, it's my fault, I'm sorry..."