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, confirming my

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

one step

to talk? Should we do it here?"

flashed in his eyes. "Let's go

started walking, slowing his pace, probably to

a night,"

understood his hint; he wanted my company

had

followed by a low mutter, "So,

I didn't want to

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

let's hang out by the flowerbed," I

and soon, I felt the weight of his jacket on my shoulders,

I turned to him, he was adjusting his coat. "You're

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

wearing his

scent would fill me