No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

My heart swelled with emotion. Though I was the Wagner family's foster daughter, Conrad's parents showered me with the same concern and love as if I were their child.

They treated me like their own daughter. I remembered Dustin Wagner, Conrad's elder brother, joking that he and Conrad had fallen out of favor since I arrived.

Fanny was right. My bond with Conrad might be fragile, but my connection with the Wagner family was unbreakable.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Everyone looked at me. Jacqueline stood up, walked over, and said, "Felicia, you're back. We were waiting for you to start dinner."

"Jacqueline, Herschel," I greeted them.

Nudged by Herschel, Conrad got up and came over. He took the bag from my hands. "Why are you back so late?"

"I was playing some pool," knowing that Jefferson would have told him about our meeting, there was no point in hiding it.

Conrad frowned. "Next time, take me with you."

He didn't like me indulging in those activities, especially without him, and he certainly didn't want me mingling with his buddy privately. Yet, he was seen around town with his late buddy's widow, Haley, even giving her the supplementary credit card he never offered me.

I didn't respond to him, instead heading toward the bathroom.

Conrad followed, asking, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm fine," I washed my hands, smiling at his reflection in the mirror.

"Felicia, I've explained things already. Don't you think you're overreacting?" Conrad's words made me lower my gaze.

I scrubbed my fingers, noticing the small dent on my left middle finger, a reminder of four years ago when tried to pull the drunken Conrad away from a fight. He promised to fill that scar with a big diamond ring, but that diamond ring never came.

"Today, I saw Haley shopping with your credit card," I spoke amidst the running water.

Conrad stiffened. "Don't get it wrong. Her in-laws cut her off because of Aiden's situation. She needed to live, so I helped her."

I turned off the tap and faced him. "Conrad, do you owe Haley or Aiden something?"

I could see the tension in his eyes. "What are you talking about?"Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"If not, why treat Haley so differently? Or should I say..." I recalled the gossip on Deborah's phone, "Did you have something with Haley back in college?"

"Felicia!" Conrad's voice was cold, "Are you investigating me?"

His anger didn't faze me. "Even your parents know about that video of you hugging her at the office. Do you think it didn't affect your reputation? With today's inte, uncovering truths isn't hard."

My words silenced him. "It seems there's something between you and Haley."

"There was nothing back then," Conrad denied.

I listened closely. "So, you mean there is something now?"

His panic was clear, and he grabbed my hand, saying, "Felicia, stop jumping to conclusions, alright? told you, once she has the baby, there will be no more ties between me and her."

I remained silent as Conrad continued, "Fine, I'll hire a caregiver and a nanny. I won't see her alone anymore. She can contact Ivan for anything, okay?"