No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

With a scream that could shatter glass, the tension was palpable.

"Don't provoke her," the firefighter warned me again, but Conrad interrupted him.

It seemed Conrad knew Haley wasn't really out for death; she was just bluffing. So, my provocations wouldn't reach her.

Right now, her act was just that—an act, making everyone believe she was on the brink of breakdown, genuinely seeking an end.

Sure enough, after her howl, she turned her gaze to me and Conrad. "I know you think I'm just trying to scare you, that I wouldn't actually jump, just trying to squeeze money out of this. Well, today, I'll show you if I'm serious about dying or just pretending."

With those words, she stepped back further.

Watching her retreat, my heart trembled. Even if she didn't intend to jump, a misstep or loss of balance could send her plummeting regardless.

My eyes fell on her visibly pregnant belly. I didn't know how many months along she was, but Conrad and I had been apart for over half a year, so the baby must've been at least six or seven months along. She might deserve her fate, but the innocent child, who hadn't even seen the world yet, didn't.

Still, a misguided sense of mercy stirred within me. I knew sweet-talking Haley was futile, but pleading might just play into her hands.

Considering her greed, I went straight for the jugular, "Haley, you can jump now, but with everyone here as witnesses, it'll be deemed suicide. You'll gain nothing, and all this will have been for nothing, including sacrificing a man who deeply loved you."

a picture of sorrow, "I've got nothing left anyway. My in-laws

rough time, resorting to such drastic

if you don't want me to jump, if you're scared of me dying, then just hand Conrad over, let him marry

treating Conrad like an object,

broken up with Conrad, and she still thought he rejected her because of

I'm not

dying. If you did, everyone could finally find peace, go their separate ways," my words, more provocative with each utterance, left

her usual manipulations to fail against me becoming visibly agitated, "Felicia, you're truly vicious.

Such a foolish notion.

like her,

was now "available" after being tainted by her, I wouldn't pick him up, not even if she didn't

prevent her

foolish, I

can reunite with Conrad, become Mrs. Wagner, enjoying the life of

your wildest dreams!" Haley was,

she

you, Haley, truly have the guts,