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Whispers in the Night Rain
Whispers in the Night Rain
Author: Rhea Knox

Chapter 1 An Act

Author: Rhea Knox
Before I realized it, William Larson was already standing in front of me. "We're getting your address changed when we're done."

I froze, but then realization hit me. "What do you mean, William?"

William tilted his head and looked through me, his eyes landing on the woman standing nearby, Bianca Shaw.

"Her Pierton visa's expiring. I'll need you to change your address so I can move hers to mine."

Something cold crept up my spine. "What happens to me, then?"

Jason answered before his father could, "Just go back to Cathay, Mom. Our old place has been vacant for years. It's a perfect place for you to enjoy your retirement."

White-hot anger flared in my chest. My blood boiled under my veins, and I couldn't breathe.

William heaved a sigh and infused some warmth into his voice as he spoke. "I know it's hard to process, but we can't hold Bianca up any longer. Once the PR process is done, Jason and I will try to move you back in."

I thought I'd known William, but perhaps I never knew him at all. Years ago, I gave up my future in Cathay just to fight for a future in Pierton, with him. His first business venture ended up in flames, and bankruptcy nearly swallowed him whole.

I had to toughen up, go back home, and beg every single relative I had for a loan. He only had the funds to make a comeback because of me.

At the time, William held my hands as tightly as he could, and tears covered every inch of his cheeks as he swore he would let me suffer no indignity.

Now he was one of the most powerful figures in Pierton, if not the most powerful figure here. Meanwhile, I had nothing but a head full of gray hair to prove it. He never made good on his word. All I gained in return was my husband's betrayal.

Something loud cracked in the air of the hall. "You're a bastard, William!"

A red mark had painted itself on William's cheek before I could even pull my hand back. He froze up like a statue for a moment, but there was no answer to my question.

Instead, he handed me a flight ticket. "I've gotten you the ticket. You'll have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life."

Bianca trembled ever so slightly. "Yvonne, I just didn't want to miss Jason's most important day. I never wanted to take anything from you. I know I'm the reason your baby died, but I've spent 30 years making up for that. That's more than enough."

My position was not swayed. I was unwavering, and she noticed that. Bianca staggered backward. "You want my life in exchange for your baby's? Fine, you can have it!"

She yanked her hairpin off and aimed it right at her throat. William and Jason darted ahead, pulling her hand back. "What are you doing, Mom?" Jason's voice cracked from panic.

"No, don't do this, Bianca!" William refused to let her go. Then, he turned to me, his eyes dripping with venom as he hissed, "What more do you want Bianca to do? She's a victim too!"
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  • Whispers in the Night Rain   Chapter 9 Home

    "And…" William continued.He was lying weakly in his wheelchair like a human-shaped blob. His life was slipping away. The evening breeze leaped over the fence and danced into the yard. I kept pushing William forward, saying nothing as he rambled.He was 30 years too late to sweep me off my feet. Whatever love we had was already dead in a ditch. Two days went by, and William could no longer keep himself up anymore. Jason became worried, so he asked the doctor to make a house call.Once the session was over, the doctor wanted to talk to us outside, alone. He said in a low voice, "The cancer's already spread. He has less than a month left."There was a knot in my heart. I couldn't quite name what it was. Maybe it was just pity, or maybe I was sad for him.…When we returned to the house, Jason's eyes were puffy from all the crying. He crouched beside William's bed and held his hand in silence. He soon found that he couldn't bring himself to tell a sickly man that he was dying.

  • Whispers in the Night Rain   Chapter 8 Dying Man

    "Mom, you finally came!" Jason pushed the wheelchair faster, and his tears wouldn't stop coming.I didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, I looked at William. "What'd the doctor say? How bad is it?"William wiped his face and tried his best to keep his voice calm. "It's no big deal, really."I didn't expose his lie. His arms were thinner than a sapling, and the back of his hands were covered in needle marks. I could tell that William's days were numbered.Oddly enough, I gleaned no satisfaction from his pathetic figure. It made me realize that I didn't really care about him anymore. It'd been like this for a long time. All I felt toward him was pity. The same pity I would feel for any ailing stranger."Yvone…" William looked at me. His eyes were bloodshot. "I know I failed you. I'm not hoping for forgiveness, and… my days are numbered. To be honest, I'd like you to stay with me in the last moments of my life. Then, I can rest in peace."A moment of quiet deliberation later, I

  • Whispers in the Night Rain   Chapter 7 Tear It Apart

    "Given the lack of disputes, all you have to do is go through the papers. If you have no other objection, please sign them," my lawyer said.William's throat bobbed. His eyes were on the file, but his hands couldn't bring themselves to take it. He refused to believe that I'd do something like this. "We've been married for decades. I know what's happening. My wife has always been a scheming snake. There is no way she's leaving without a cent! You're lying! Scram!" He slammed the door shut in the lawyer's face.The lawyer's muffled voice could be heard even through the door, saying, "Mr. Larson, please understand that Ms. Oliviera will be forced to take this matter to court if you don't work with me." His tone was measured as he uttered, "The results would still be the same."The lawyer left after that.…As his footsteps faded into the distance, William, who was leaning against the door, slowly slid to the ground. The air was, save for the ticking of the clock, silent.Will

  • Whispers in the Night Rain   Chapter 6 The Lawyer Comes

    "Yvonne, you're b—" The rest of that sentence wilted in William's throat.The one who came out of the kitchen wasn't me; it was Bianca. She smiled at William and served food. "Hey, William. I saw the menu Yvonne left. It's probably filled with your faves, so I cooked up some. Have a bite."The familiar scent only hit William harder. The table hosted all his favorites. All the wining and dining had killed his stomach. I was always careful with his menu, making sure it wouldn't worsen his gut health. I had gone around seeking prescriptions to make him feel better.That was how I ended up learning how to make herbal dishes. Every single item on the menu was proof of my love, but he'd always ignored it.When William was pulled out of memory lane, Bianca was still smiling at him, waiting for him to eat. The food was something he should be familiar with, but it also wasn't.He said darkly, "Never make these again."She paused. "Are they not to your liking?"Hiss chest heaved, and th

  • Whispers in the Night Rain   Chapter 5 Groggy

    William raised his voice into what was nearly a roar. "What? She terminated her resident status and is leaving Pierton?" He staggered forward, and his knee crashed into the edge of the table.The cake nearly tumbled over, but William didn't care. His heart was thundering in his ears so loudly, he thought it might stop beating.Jason noticed the change in the air as well. His brows furrowed, and he stepped forth. "No way, Dad. You tried to send her back to Cathay, but she refused. She'd never leave of her own volition."William didn't answer. His deathly pallor silenced Jason better than any reply. Suddenly, William swiveled around and strode off the stage.Bianca was still reeling from William's sudden departure, so she tried to grab his arm without thinking. Alas, William dodged her. Jason froze for a moment before following his father.William drove all the way back, his hands trembling. He even ran through a few red lights in his haste to get there faster. Jason was in th

  • Whispers in the Night Rain   Chapter 4 She's Leaving

    "Do me a favor, young lady."…It was finally done. William set up a grand banquet to welcome Bianca, and it was to be held at the new observation tower he owned.I knew that place. It was the same place he had once proposed to me. There were no flowers or any diamond rings. All it had was him kneeling on one knee, blushing as red as an apple. He swore he would make me the happiest woman in the world.30 years had gone by since that promise was made. He did make good on his word, but it was to someone else. The banquet was, if nothing else, magnificent. The world's bluebloods and reporters were all present.William had chosen the time of sunset for his little show. When the skies were burning crimson gold, and the observation tower lit up like a brazier that shone over the city, he put his arm around Bianca and walked onto the stage.The city of Pierton unfurled behind them. While the party was reaching its peak, someone asked, "Mr. Larson, you spent more than three billion and s

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