No More Waiting, She Chooses Love



The baby was premature, arrived at just seven and a half months.

Almost translucent, lying there in the incubator, it was heart-wrenchingly fragile at first glance.

Fanny couldn't be sure if the little one would make it; it all depended on some kind of miracle now. Haley's attempt to jump off a building ended in failure, but the baby ended up suffering because of it.

Haley herself wasn't in good shape either. A ruptured uterus led to a heavy bleed and the eventual removal of her womb.

It was a miracle she survived.

As for her future, I couldn't bring myself to care anymore.

But I felt bad for the baby, devoid of a biological father, not recognized by the elderly Martins, and it was uncertain if Haley could ever love him.

If she did love this child, she wouldn't have put herself through so much turmoil.

When Ernest came to pick me up from the hospital, his face was stone-cold. Fanny nudged me with her shoulder, "Your man's not happy."

I could see that too.

"Mixing up with Conrad like this would upset anyone," Fanny reminded me.

I wanted to explain, but Ernest was already in front of me.

He looked at me, silent.

His presence alone seemed to drop the temperature around us.

Since we've been together, he's never shown me this side of him. This was a first.

I was unharmed, but I knew today's events could have ended differently, and I might not have been here to tell the tale.

I stepped closer to him. "I'm okay, nothing happened."

He remained silent. I took his hand, "I promise I won't get involved in their matters again."

Fanny coughed lightly and

approached, "Mr. Collins, your wife's

already scared enough, no need to keep that frown. You should give her a hug now."

Ernest didn't hug me but asked Fanny, "Are you sure she's alright?"

"Absolutely, I guarantee it on my reputation as Dr. Willis." Fanny really was like a sister to me.

Ernest stared at Fanny for a moment before turning to me, "This should not happen again."

"Understood!" I replied cheekily and hugged him.

Ernest's hand rested on my head, and in that moment, my eyes welled up.

It was hard to describe the feeling - a mix of vulnerability, relief, and a bittersweet sort of bravery.

"I'll leave you two," Fanny said, turning to go.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

But she stopped and turned back, "There's something you should know."

Ernest and I, still in each other's arms, looked at her. She had her hands in her pockets, "Yates is leaving." Leaving?

"What will you do?" I blurted out.

Fanny just shrugged. "I'll be here, as always."

"But you two just started dating."

"Love is love, work is work. Two different things," Fanny was clear-headed.

Still, beginning a relationship and immediately facing long distance was a tough and testing ordeal.

"When is Yates leaving?" Ernest took up the conversation.

"Day after tomorrow, early. So, if there are any concerns regarding your sister's recovery, you might want to talk to him," Fanny us.

Ernest

swn minded

exchanged glances

before e he said, "Tomorrow

Licia and I would like to invite tel

and

Yates for dinner."?

"As friends," I quickly added.