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."

"I've got nothing left anyway. My in-laws disown me, and my own

time, resorting to such drastic measures. Even her own brother had

then just hand Conrad

she was treating Conrad like an object, not

with Conrad, and she still thought he rejected her

I'm

peace, go their separate ways," my words, more provocative

usual manipulations to fail against me becoming visibly agitated, "Felicia, you're truly vicious. I know you want me dead, just so

Such a foolish notion.

everyone was like her, not

her, I wouldn't pick him up, not even if

prevent her from

foolish, I

go ahead and jump. Then + can reunite with Conrad, become Mrs.

Haley was, predictably, unwilling to play into

she held against me, to

Then drop the melodrama. If you, Haley, truly have the guts, compete with me fair and