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."

delayed an hour for Jacqueline. The Wagner family's living room was transformed into the funeral parlor, Herschel and

looked so peaceful, so serene, as

I had about the funeral, any fear that Dustin might cause a scene, was gone, replaced by an

with the Wagner family, the most formative years of my life.

my parents, yes, but they had also

before my eyes, of Jacqueline taking me everywhere with her, proudly introducing

me

never left my lips, a regret that would haunt me

down my face, I walked up

at

s face, I finall

said the

word, "Mom, safe travels."

her face and swept her away

bet

and they were laid to rest. Just as they were about to be buried, Fanny whispered in my ear,

QUMS

that Dustin might have planned to

Perhaps Jacqueline's sudden passing changed his

Dustin, his eyes red and swollen

looked at Conrad, whose expression remained unchanged, devoid