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

body under the blanket. "Is it appropriate for you, a man, to

find her a caregiver," Conrad said, tidying

Embarrassment and sorrow welled up

me, his eyes filled with

probably worried I'd cling to

Conrad rarely showed fear. Yet, at the moment, in front of me, he seemed genuinely

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

that, I buried

et el

blanket and closed Moments

my eyes

footsteps approach, his breath warm

my skin, he murmured

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

wouldn't matter.