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.

realized then the trap wasn't set for me but used me as

whole kidnapping fiasco, I was the

But once you two were apart, he had no reason to stop Dustin directly. The best way to keep you apart was to make

pit served two purposes. To show you how much he loved you, risking

playing the martyr, and

part of it," Ernest

I turned to look at him, inadvertently catching a glimpse of his wounds just

you have the doctor treat these wounds? I think

at me intently. "I didn't want any

I was momentarily speechless.

came out

"Be serious, Ernest. What else was Conrad up

schemes were ultimately driven by one

it wasn't just about me. It was about their own

Ernest. What mattered was the here and now, the person in front of

hanging in danger while Ernest just watched, I couldn't help but ask, "Ernest, how could you

jaw tightened. "Are you holding

angry and, of course, hurt," I