No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 819

It didn't really matter why anymore.

Conrad mentioned that Jacqueline's departure had something to do with him and Dustin. I suspected I was part of the reason too.

She treated me like her own daughter, but the vendetta between our families eventually drove a wedge between us.

Images of her pleading for me to come home flashed before my eyes, the way she would sneak me caramel apples, and the pumpkin pie she made for me today...

She must have been planning this for a while...

It felt like my heart had been ripped open, and the cold wind that blew through was like knives cutting into me.

I held grievances, sure, but never hatred.

Yet, I never got to say it, and now I never would. Even if I did, they wouldn't hear

it.

Dustin tightened his grip on Conrad's hand, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he let go.

Conrad came over, knelt by the bedside, and gently smoothed Jacqueline's face, erasing the traces of pain and wiping away the blood at the corner of her mouth. "Mom, it's okay to go now. Be with Dad."

Wagner family's living room was transformed into the funeral parlor, Herschel

so peaceful, so serene, as if they were

apprehension I had about the funeral, any fear that Dustin

the most formative years of my life. Herschel and Jacqueline were there for every step of my journey

yes, but they had also filled

me everywhere with her, proudly introducing me

wanted me to call

left my lips, a regret that would

down my face, I walked up to where

at

s face, I finall

said the

word, "Mom, safe travels."

blurred her face and swept her away

bet

laid to rest. Just as they were

QUMS

dawned on me that Dustin might have planned to stir up trouble

Perhaps Jacqueline's sudden passing changed

eyes red and swollen from

I looked at Conrad, whose expression remained unchanged, devoid