Whispers Turn

After tying up all the loose ends, Sherilyn felt ready to move on and start fresh. 

Before she left, she didn’t forget to grab the half–eaten loaf of bread in the fridge. Returning to the apartment she rented, the streets were free from the rush hour traffic. 

Once inside, Sherilyn dropped her bags and rolled her sleeves to start cleaning. She scrubbed every nook and cranny, dusted off every surface, and neatly organized her belongings 

When she finished, the day had tumed to evening. Rubbing her growling stomach, Sherilyn remembered the half loaf of bread sheld devoured in the car earlier. After all the hustle, she was starving again. 

She grabbed her wallet, locked the door behind her, and headed to the nearest grocery store. She decided to go with some cheap eats like bread, pickles, and hot sauce 

After arriving at her place, Sherilyn have some bread, complementing it with the pickles and hot sauce. It was a simple meal, but it would keep her going without breaking the bank. 

Money was tight. She hadn’t started earning yet and was already down by $5200. The $5000 settlement at the police station, though not willingly paid by her, and there was no way Gilbert would offer to cover it for her. She wanted nothing more to do with him. Thankfully, she was starting her new job the next day. She could make do with it as long as she didn’t starve before her first paycheck. Hardship wasnt new to Sherilyn. Back in her Crestwood days, she had faced more difficult times, even scavenging the restaurant leftovers to fill her stomach. 

Cooking for herself, at least she didn’t need to endure the pitying looks or compete with homeless people for scraps. 

Gone were the days when she was the delicate heiress fostered by the Johnson family. 

That night, Gilbert returned to Golden Oak Manor around 2 AM. The living room was in darkness, with only the faint light from the street lamps outside filtering through the balcony’s floor–to–ceiling windows. While passing the sofa, Gilbert glanced over half–expecting to see Sherlyn, but it was empty. 

“What’s going on? Isn’t Sherilyn supposed to be here? How come she’s not around at this hour?” He snorted dismissively. Tired of playing the victim? Has she finally decided to sleep in a room?” 

Feeling dizzy from the night’s indulgences, Gilbert didn’t dwell on it further and headed upstairs. 

Waking up late the next day with a hangover, Gilbert took a shower to clear his head. 

Downstairs, the cleaning service had arrived. One of the cleaners approached Gilbert. “Mr. Johnson, we found this on the sofa while tidying up. It’s for you, sir.” 

“What is it?” Gilbert took the heavy envelope handed to him, puzzled by its contents. It felt like money, 

And there was a note written on it. “Gilbert, here’s $5200. $5000 is for the settlement you covered for me, and $200 for the sofa cleaning. I checked the rates. It’s about right. Also, I’ve moved out. Sorry for the inconvenience. Yours, Sherilyn.” 

That was it. It was no more, no less. 

Gilbert’s eyes narrowed as he opened the envelope to find a stack of cash. 

“Hah!” He let out a short laugh, tossing the envelope aside and heading further into the house. 

Sherilyn’s massive suitcase was gone. 

Gilbert shouted, “Aval” 

“Yes, Mr. Johnson? Ava hurried over 

Gilbert asked, “Did you clean the g 

guest rooms? is anyone staying there?” 

“Uh, yes, they’re clean. No, nobody’s staying. I mean, they’ve been empty, right?” 

So, she hadn’t just moved to another room, She had left, probably last night! 

And she even left him money, right? Since she was fifteen, wasn’t everything she had provided by the Johnson family? 

Gilbert’s face darkened and his lips tightened into a thin line. 

“Sherilyn, what do you think this is? A hotel? Come and go as you please?” 

Immediately, he pulled out his phone and dialed Sherilyn’s number. 

Meanwhile, Sherlyn was Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.