No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 9



Though I wasn't head over heels, the idea of him answering a call or leaving me at that moment felt humiliating.

Conrad swallowed hard as he grabbed his phone, swiftly ending the call before resuming his trail of kisses down my neck and across my collarbone. But the phone rang again almost instantly. I knew ignoring it meant neither Conrad nor I would find peace after.

I turned my head aside, saying coldly, "You better take it."

A flash of unease crossed Conrad's face as he pulled the blanket to cover me before picking up the phone and stepping onto the balcony.

Even though he slid the balcony door shut behind him, his deep, resonant voice still carried over to me. "I can't make it. Get a caregiver to help you out."

"I'm not saying I won't help. I know it's on me. Fine, stop crying. I'll be there soon..."

Then silence fell, punctuated only by the click of a lighter. Conrad was smoking. For the first time, he smoked at home. It took about ten minutes for Conrad to return, the air then tinged with tobacco.

He looked at me, his gaze filled with unease. "I... I need to step out. It's Haley. She's in the hospital with no one to look after her."

didn't lie or keep it from

blanket. "Is it appropriate for you, a

Conrad said, tidying

Embarrassment and sorrow welled up

at me, his

probably worried I'd cling to him and beg him not to

City, Conrad rarely showed fear. Yet, at the

to say what got stuck in my throat. Instead, I offered a bitter

that, I

et el

the blanket and

my eyes

approach, his breath

my skin,

hurt me, yet he did it anyway. Perhaps my repeated forgiveness made him

wouldn't matter.