No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Conrad's face froze, his eyes wide with shock as he looked at me. Then, his gaze fell on the intertwined hands of Ernest and me. He didn't speak, and neither did I. It was Ernest who broke the silence first, "Mr. Wagner, good morning."

And it was indeed morning-though the sun had yet to rise.

Conrad seemed to snap out of his daze at Ernest's greeting, clenching his jaw as his gaze fixed on me. "Felicia, we need to talk."

I could have refused, but I didn't.

Some conversations are inevitable. Better to have them and get it over with, so they don't linger unspoken.

"Ernest, you go ahead. I'd like a glass of milk," I said, adopting the casual tone of a wife speaking to her husband.

Ernest hummed in acknowledgment, pulling my coat around me tighter. "It's chilly in the morning."

He headed for the elevator, leaving Conrad and me behind. Conrad didn't lead me away but instead watched the elevator numbers climb. Only when the elevator stopped did he turn to me. "When did you buy the apartment?"

I had initially thought Conrad had bought Haley an apartment above mine just to spite me. But seeing his reaction earlier made me realize I had misunderstood.

"Probably before you," I replied, noticing his eyes narrow, a deeper shadow crossing his face.

"I hope Haley didn't make you buy it," I ventured.

remained silent,

indeed been playing a nasty game, buying an apartment just above mine, either to flaunt her relationship with Conrad or to make him witness my happiness with Ernest, hoping to sever any remaining ties I

was one step ahead in uncovering her

Should we

flashed in his eyes. "Let's

walking, slowing his pace, probably to

and a

hint; he wanted

just had

a look of pained disappointment crossed Conrad's face, followed by a low

a big deal, but I didn't want to give him

car," Conrad suggested, probably remembering Ernest's comment about the morning

by the flowerbed,"

of his jacket on my shoulders, carrying the warmth and scent

adjusting his coat. "You're not going to refuse

walked ahead. I looked down at the jacket enveloping me, feeling a

wearing his clothes

scent would fill me