No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

"The accident she mentioned... wasn't that the crash that killed my parents?

So, Ernest's dad was bribed to cause it?! That hit me like a ton of bricks.

Trying to steady my pounding heart, I looked at Shirley And asked, "Who's spreading these rumors, and is there any proof?"

She seemed oblivious to my agitation and shook her head lightly. "No clue, just whispers here and there. People around him are scared stiff. If he finds out who's been talking, they're as good as dead." "Can you dig around for more info?" My question made her turn back to look at me.

This time, she sensed something was off and gave a slight chuckle. "Why are you so interested in this all of a sudden?"

I hesitated, but deciding to trust her with the truth, I confessed, "Because the couple in that accident were my parents, and the driver... was my ex-boyfriend's father."

Shirley's eyes widened in shock.

I grabbed her arm, "That's why I need to know if it's true. I need evidence."

Her fake eyelashes fluttered. "You want my help?"

I knew we weren't exactly friends; there was a time she wanted to be friends, and I had turned her down.

resented Lord, and since she was one of his insiders, plus the one who'd mentioned the rumor,

fire. If such a rumor existed,

Even if it meant swallowing my

I hope you can help

not even friends. I could

be petty, and she remembered how I'd rejected her

from her expression, it was clear

we'll be friends," I countered, trying to play

this how you

help," I clarified. Even though I was seeking

even friendship, showing too much desperation puts you

some value in having me as a friend. So, if she

of someone raised

But just a

my anxiety; it heightened it. Lord had no known vendetta against my parents, so why target them? There had to be more to the story, a thought@dared

we were

still-flat belly. "I'll

to give up, I