No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 84



At this moment, I knew she wouldn't reply. I closed the chat and opened my social feed, only to find a post from Jefferson. It wasn't just him in the photos but a group, clinking their drinks together in celebration. Among those hands, one was unmistakably Conrad's. I recognized it because of the cheap ring he was wearing, a gift from me. Seeing that ring now made me cringe at my own naivety and feel utterly embarrassed.

That ring was part of a matching set, the other half of which was with me, bought for nine hundred and ny-nine yuan on my eighteenth birthday. I wore the female version and gave him the male one, to which he jokingly accused me of trying to tie him down. After that, he never wore it again. When I subtly inquired, he mentioned he was afraid of being made fun of for its cheapness. I knew what he meant; someone of his stature couldn't possibly wear a ring that inexpensive. But it was the first thing I bought with my own earnings from tutoring. From then on, I never brought up the ring again, nor did he wear it. Yet there it was in the photo, on his finger.

What did this mean? Was he trying to tell me something? I didn't know, and I didn't want to guess anymore. But that ring did sting, reminding me of how I had always been so cautious and admiring around Conrad.

My thoughts were interrupted by a text from Fanny. "Who did you sleep with?" Fanny was always blunt. I didn't reply, distracted by the photo of Conrad wearing the ring. "Conrad?" She texted again, followed quickly by, "Impossible." "Ernest?" Fanny finally guessed. She knew my life and my affairs too well for it to be a difficult guess. "The only explanation for nothing happening between a man and a woman alone together is that the man has issues," Fanny texted, stirring the pot.

it was my charm that fell short. Thinking about how I couldn't even

didn't reply to my texts, Deborah woke up with the alarm, her first question catching me off guard. I wasn't expecting

punishing yourself or

I rolled my eyes at

go running at night?" Deborah persisted, finding it hard to believe. I

instead changed the subject,

to hurry

had arisen. She's always been curious, Felicia, if you're finding problems

breakfast, we ran into Ernest already there, enjoying his morning meal. "Mr. Collins, good morning Deborah greeted him energetically. Ernest nodded slightly, "Morning." I avoided eye contact and putted Deborah away to choose our breakfast. Surprisingly, she went straight for my bag, "Felicia, I'll have what you're having.