No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 159

When I was paying, my phone buzzed with a call from Ernest.

"Sorry, I was busy earlier and just saw your message," Ernest began with an explanation.

"Got it. Are you free to talk now?" I asked.

"What time?" Ernest replied.

I took a moment to think. If we met at six, it'd be dinner time, and Herschel and Jacqueline would surely insist on having me stay for dinner. I didn't mind, but I figured Ernest might feel out of place.

"How about 7:30?" By then, the Wagners would have finished their dinner.

"Sounds good. I'll come pick you up at 7, okay?" Ernest offered.

I couldn't help but laugh. "And you plan to pick me up on a bike, or what?"

It was meant as a light-hearted joke, but the silence on the other end made me realize Ernest might have taken it the wrong way.

"Hey, I didn't mean anything by it," I quickly clarified, then added, "I'll pick you up."

"I'll come back half an hour early so we can head out together." Do I need to bring anything, like a gift?" Ernest asked after a brief pause.

"No need, I've got it covered," I replied and hung up, only to catch Haley's envious gaze on me.

Whether in the past or now, whenever Haley looked at me, I could always sense a mix of envy and jealousy.

With not much to say to her, I grabbed my things and took off.

Instead of heading home, I made a detour to a men's clothing store. Bringing Ernest back with me today, I couldn't let him wear his usual casual clothes. Not knowing if he had anything appropriate, I figured buying him a proper outfit was the least I could do if I was roping him into this act. By six, I had a quick dinner and waited for Ernest to return.

Instead of Ernest, I got a call from Deborah. "Felicia, you got a moment tonight? I really need to chat."Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

Talk about bad timing. Not tonight.

"What's up? We can talk over the phone. I've got plans to visit the Wagner family," I didn't hide my plans from Deborah.

"That's unfortunate," Deborah sounded genuinely upset.

I took a bite from an apple on the table saying, "Let's have dinner some other time."

"I'm not in the mood," she retorted. "Felicia, I've been so irritated these past days. I didn't want to bother you, but I'm at my wit's end."

I frowned slightly. "What happened? Is Ernest giving you a hard time?"

"It's not him. It's Haley, that homewrecker," Deborah's words made me pause mid-bite.

I had bumped into her this morning, and now someone else was bringing her up. Seemed like she was my bad luck charm today. "What about her?" I asked, dragging out my question.

Deborah spilled the beans like she was unloading. "Haley, flaunting her pregnancy like she's carrying some royal heir, acting as if she deserves to be carried around on a throne. If she's so worried about mishaps, why not just stay in bed at home?"

I chuckled. "Maybe she's trying to earn some diaper money."

196

"Nonsense, she's just showing off, making it seem like she's carrying Mr. Wagner's child," Deborah's words made the apple in my mouth taste bitter.

"Could be," I responded noncommittally.

"Really?" Deborah sounded shocked. "If she is carrying Mr. Wagner's child, that means he's betrayed you. What a jerk."

Now, the apple was definitely hard to swallow.

I put down the apple, not responding.

"Felicia, I doubt it," Deborah

backtracked. "If she really was

carrying Mr. Wagner's heir, she

wouldn't be acting all meek around she owes you big time."

you, li

Leave it to Deborah to insult someone and drag me into it too.