The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 181

Social media was working overtime to bury any buzz about Petty. Everyone watching knew it wasn’t by chance. Someone with serious power was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

No one really bothered to dig into whether it was Franco himself who was tamping down the trending hashtags or scrubbing the hot topics. The crowd only cared about tossing insults Petty’s way, quick to pile on wherever the hate went.

Still, no matter how hard things got pulled behind curtains, the news that Petty was Franco’s wife just wouldn't die down. The internet lit up with curiosity and speculation.

***

In a room where the only light crept in from the hallway, Abbot swiped out of his social media feed and called up a number.

The phone was picked up before the second ring. Abbot’s tone was half teasing, half mocking. “Owen, why didn’t you mention Petty was Franco’s wife? Don’t tell me you don’t know your own sister-in-law.”

He remembered how Owen had acted clueless about Petty that day when her photo started making rounds online.

Owen answered with a sharp snort. “Franco? I hate that man enough to want him gone. His wife’s just collateral. Say the word and I’ll deal with her, too. No need for the details.”

Abbot laughed, genuine and unrestrained. “Owen, you never disappoint.”

He let a strand of prayer beads slip through his fingers, a soft smile crossing his face. “But things aren’t as simple as I thought. Petty’s got a much more complicated background than I expected. For now, leave her alone. I don't want Franco catching wind of us. That man is dangerous when cornered.”

Owen scoffed. “What, suddenly afraid? Franco doesn’t even love Petty.”

Abbot’s fingertips paused on a bead, his smile mysterious. “You really think that?”

What he’d seen that night at the club told him otherwise. In fact, the truth looked a lot more complicated.

After Abbot hung up, Owen sat in his office, bathed in shadows. His face had darkened to a scowl. He tossed his phone on the desk, his palms slick with nervous sweat.

On his computer screen, headlines about Petty glared back at him.

Owen remembered—it was him who’d hired people to spread all those rumors about Petty using her looks and charm to climb up.

It was supposed to flush out her true connections eventually.

Owen’s voice came through, dark and cold. “Petty, are you even aware that Franco’s been digging into your family’s past for years?”

He was looking into the Lane family?

Petty’s brow furrowed. Back when everything fell apart, the Lane family was just her and her parents. If Franco was investigating them, he was really after her parents.

But why?

Petty could smell the trap Owen was setting, trying to get inside her head. She kept her voice flat. “Got it. Thanks.”

Just as she was about to hang up, Owen’s tone turned even icier. “He’s digging into the plane crash that killed his parents. That plane? It belonged to your family’s airline, Petty. Don’t you see what that means?”

An icy dread wrapped itself around Petty’s heart. She felt her world freeze, everything inside her going still all at once.

Her voice came out brittle and small. “What are you saying?” It sounded like she was talking to herself, like she could barely believe it.