No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 177



"It's me!" The familiar voice echoed down the hallway.

I grabbed the railing abruptly, stopping in my tracks, my tense heart finally easing.

After a moment, I turned and headed up the stairs, spotting Ernest lurking in the shadows.

Recalling the awkwardness of our last encounter, I was at a loss for words. But the truth was, I was genuinely frightened. Putting on a facade of annoyance, I blurted out, "Don't you know you look like a scene from a horror movie standing there?"

"Yeah," that was his one-word reply.

And he had no idea how that single word could be so infuriating yet so exasperatingly cool.

Just as I was about to give him a piece of my mind, he murmured, "Won't happen again."

That left me speechless.

So, I pulled out my keys to unlock the door.

Just as I was about to turn the key, his voice filled the air once more, deep and solemn. “I overthought things tonight. It won't happen again."

to be stunned. I turned around, and he was already

closing it, our

mouth moved, but the words only escaped after his door had shut,

to end our pretend relationship. But I seriously

even regretted asking Ernest to play the part of my boyfriend. Not because I feared he'd cling to me, but because

been in a relationship, yet he was being used by

I felt utterly despicable.

my apartment, weighed down by guilt, which made for a lousy night's sleep. My dreams were haunted by Ernest, following me meekly, murmuring, "Why did you kiss me? That

a state of suppressed guilt, it was early, still

time, it was

be

this was the best time

I made

I realized how pathetic I felt, living in my own home yet feeling like a

Ernest, I started leaving early and coming back late, successfully

returning to find a cold breakfast by my door only

thought about

stop preparing breakfast for

but