The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 20

“You really know what I like? Thanks,” Petty said, glancing at Jay with surprise.

She always added a little green pepper to her pie. It helped cut through the grease, made everything taste brighter.

Jay didn’t say a word. His eyes lingered on her for a second, then he nodded and closed the car door.

Franco’s voice broke the silence, cold and sharp. “Eat enough donkey meat pie and no wonder you’re as stubborn as a donkey.”

Petty kept eating quietly. Her ears were still ringing, everything muffled and distant, but she could just make out Franco’s words. She didn’t respond.

She was stubborn, always had been. Back then, when she was determined to marry Franco, Hans had tried everything to talk her out of it. He begged, he lectured, he nearly ended their friendship for her sake, but she never budged.

She couldn’t help it. Franco was the first guy she ever fell for, the first one who made her heart race.

It wasn’t until she glanced out the window that she realized this wasn’t the way back to Misty Vale. Where was Franco taking her?

The car rolled through the gates of a hospital owned by The White Group.

“I already saw a doctor. I don’t need another checkup,” Petty said. She could guess what he was planning.

Franco didn’t even look her way. “I’ll only trust the results if I see them myself.”

He pushed the car door open with one hand. “If you don’t recover, it’s going to be a problem.”

She didn’t need to ask who would have the problem. It was all about keeping Hassan out of trouble.

He’d gone out of his way to protect Hassan, all because he was afraid Petty would try to get back at him.

“If you’re that scared I’ll go after Hassan, why bring me here? Aren’t you worried I’ll just lose it, run into his room, and stab him?”

Franco stopped in his tracks. A cold warning flashed in his eyes. “Petty, I’m warning you. Don’t touch Hassan.”

Petty stood in the drafty hallway, feeling every icy gust shoot straight through the raw, empty ache in her chest.

The hospital’s specialist team gave her a full exam.

She closed her eyes, forcing herself to describe how she’d been kicked in the ear that night. The more she spoke, the worse she looked.

The ruby bracelet on Laura’s wrist—it belonged to the Lane family.

Petty had known about that bracelet since she was little. Her grandmother gave it to her mom as a wedding gift, and her mom always said it would be Petty’s one day, to wear at her own wedding, to keep the tradition alive.

That bracelet was supposed to be her dowry.

But when the Lane family went bankrupt, her mom had no choice but to pawn it. They’d heard that a rich businessman bought it years ago.

Petty had tried to find out who, but she never got anywhere.

She never expected to see it on Laura’s wrist.

Laura followed her gaze, glanced down, and traced the bracelet with her pale fingers. She smiled. “Do you like my bracelet, Petty? If you want, I can buy one for you too. Franco, where did you get this one?”

Petty felt all the blood rush from her face.

So Franco was the one who gave it to Laura.