No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 727

"You've had your suspicions about Dustin for a while, but what about Conrad? You both were working together, yet when he was surrounded by alligators, you didn't step in to help. Why was that?" I voiced my confusion. Now that Conrad and I had parted ways, his fate shouldn't concern me anymore. Yet, the scene replayed in my mind, sometimes even haunting my dreams.

I had asked Conrad about it, and though he gave me his perspective, I knew Ernest's explanation would hold the true insight.

"Testing him," Ernest replied tersely.

"Because he's Dustin's brother?" I probed further.

"Yes, but that's not the whole story. I had other reasons to be suspicious," Ernest admitted, piquing my curiosity.

"Like what?"

From my angle, I couldn't see Ernest's wounds or his expression as he spoke.

"It all seemed too orchestrated, with all suspicions directed at Dustin, as if someone was pulling the strings," Ernest's words took me back to that time.

Indeed, it felt like that. Moving into Dustin's mansion, then the mishap. The danger seemed aimed at me, yet it was Ernest and his team who bore the brunt.

wasn't set for me but used me

fiasco, I was the only one who emerged

no reason to stop Dustin

pit served two purposes. To show you how much he loved you, risking his life, and to clear himself of suspicion. After all, who would

was playing the martyr, and you wanted to

it," Ernest admitted, hinting there was

turned to look at him, inadvertently catching a glimpse of his wounds just as the doctor finished up and

you have the doctor treat these wounds? I think a nurse might have been gentler," I suggested to

any woman but you

I was momentarily speechless.

came out of

playful smack. "Be serious,

schemes were ultimately driven by

it wasn't just about me.

need to argue that point with Ernest. What mattered was the here and now, the person in

I couldn't help but ask, "Ernest, how could you claim to love me

jaw tightened. "Are you

me deeply. I'm angry and, of course, hurt," I