No More Waiting, She Chooses Love



If he hadn't spoken up, I might have forgotten he was even there.

Ernest's face was a blank slate, emotionless, with eyes that seemed to hold depths of darkness. He mentioned the man was his father.

But then, Lord had said, his father's move against my parents was solely because he was bought off by Clark. And on our way here, Ernest himself admitted his father's actions were driven by money.

So, this whole mess seemed unrelated to Herschel. Then why was Ernest confronting him?Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

My head was a whirlwind of confusion, throbbing as if a drill was boring through my skull.

I took another look at Herschel. He was completely unflappable, but Jacqueline seemed nervous, holding onto Herschel's arm tightly.

After a few seconds of staring down Herschel, Ernest finally got a response, "Your father's actions have nothing to do with me."

"Really?" Ernest's tone was sharp, cutting.

"Ernest, Herschel has already spilled everything about what was done to Felicia's parents. If something was done to your father, there's no point hiding it," Jacqueline chimed in, defending her husband.

Ernest's face hardened as he said, "My investigation shows that someone was behind Lord's buyout of my dad's company."

Herschel's eyes flickered away for a moment, and Ernest continued, "If I'm not mistaken, you did it to cut off Felicia's safety. To ensure that after her parents' demise, no one else could take her in."

I was stunned, turning to look at Ernest, who now turned to me, "Because her blood could serve as a backup for your son, and by keeping her, you could atone for your sins."

After Ernest finished, he looked back at Herschel, "Felicia, from the beginning to the end, was just a pawn in your game."

Jacqueline shook her head violently, "No, that's not true. We genuinely care for Felicia, we truly love her..."

Herschel had said earlier, he kept Jacqueline in the dark about what he did to my parents, so I didn't doubt her love for me. But Herschel?

"Herschel, is that true?" I interrupted Jacqueline.

Herschel's silence was all the answer I needed.

The love I thought was genuine, turned out to be a sham, a scheme.

Perhaps, my parents' death wasn't just about that contract my father signed, but because of the blood running through my veins.

Because my blood could save Conrad's life.

So, his life was deemed invaluable, so much so that it warranted the exchange of my parents' lives.

And for him, I had devoted ten years of affection...

My body trembled uncontrollably, numbness creeping into my limbs...

"Felicia, I'm so sorry. I'm a murderer. Hate me all you want, I wouldn't blink if you asked for my life right now Herschel said, his eyes filled with remorse.

But this version of him seemed so fake.

For a decade, he had fooled me with his act, and maybe he had tricked my parents too. My eyes filled with tears, making my view of him go blurry.

Clutching my palms tightly, the rage

within me erupted, "What good

would hating you do? Can my

parents come back? Can I rede these ten years of walking on eggshells?"

No longer the compliant girl I once was, I was now fueled by rage.

"Felicia," Jacqueline's voice was filled with sorrow.

But my hatred, my sense of betrayal, was unstoppable.

"How could you be so selfish? Conrad's life is precious, and my parents' lives mean nothing?" My chest hurt, as if the air had been sucked out of me. "Felicia...our love for you is real, truly," Jacqueline insisted.

But to me, their love was a sin, a shackle preventing me from facing my parents.

Each visit to my parents' graves, I'd assure them of how much Herschel and Jacqueline cared for me. Now I realized how those words must torment my parents below.

"Stop talking," I collapsed, covering my ears, on the verge of breakdown.

I felt a tight squeeze on my shoulder, and then I was enveloped in a familiar, warm embrace.

I knew it was Ernest.

The one who didn't want me.