No More Waiting, She Chooses Love



"Dustin, I get what you're after, but let's cut to the chase-my answer is a flat no," I stated upfront, sparing us both the unnecessary banter. "Felicia, you can't win against the Clark family," Dustin's tone was a mix of persuasion and intimidation.

But after all I've been through, intimidation was the last thing to work on me. I offered him a faint smile, "But I want to give it a shot. Who knows, I might just pull it off."

"Like a moth to a flame, you do realize that, right?" Dustin mocked my audacity.

I pursed my lips, "Do you know what makes humans greater than any other animal, Dustin? It's the courage the courage to stand up, to try, to break through."

Seeing my resolve, Dustin fell silent for a moment before he finally spoke, "If you want Ernest to be safe, hand over what they want. Take the money and live the life you wish for. Isn't that a good deal?"

His willingness to negotiate showed he had let go of his obsession over me.

Yet, I knew better than to follow his path, as it would only lead Ernest and me to a worse fate.

"Dustin expects me to just survive?" I shook my head lightly, "My parents taught me to live with integrity, to walk the earth without shame so I can sleep peacefully and eat well."

Gazing towards the sky not far away, I continued, "If I lived as you suggest, I'd be too ashamed to face my parents even in death."

Dustin nodded slightly, acknowledging my stance, "Well, if that's how you feel, so be it. But remember, you're only safe now because the Clark family respects my word."

"Dustin's word is quite valuable, then," I couldn't help but lay the sarcasm thick.

His expression stiffened, "Since you're set on this path, there's nothing more for me to say."

He turned to leave, but thinking of Ernest's predicament, I couldn't help but add, "If anything happens to Ernest, we'll both be attending his funeral." He paused, then continued on his way without looking back.

I sighed heavily, my worries for Ernest growing, alongside my longing for him.

But I knew holding onto what Ernest had given me was the key to his safety.

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Considering they were already plotting, relying solely on Ernest's item might not be enough. After all, only knew its location, making me their target.

If anything happened to me, and they made Ernest disappear, their problems would be solved permanently.

Besides myself, I needed to entrust this secret to someone reliable. Of course, I couldn't just wait for things to happen.

Yolande was uncertain about assisting me, and being part of the Clark family, I couldn't put all my hopes on her. I had to figure out another way.

Racking my brain for solutions, I found myself heading to the billiards hall that used to belong to Jefferson.

It had changed hands, so the place had a new owner, likely someone from the same circles.

To my surprise, the new owner recognized me and said, "Jefferson left instructions that Ms. Hudson is to be allowed to play as she pleases." Jefferson had indeed been thoughtful, arranging this before his departure.

I played billiards, losing track of time until my arms were too sore to continue.

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The owner brewed some tea for me,

and as I sipped it, I observed the

changes to the hall. At first glance, it looked the same, but the details had been finely tuned.

The tea counter for relaxation and the indoor aromatherapy were new additions. The fragrance wasn't ordinary; it was the kind of calming incense you'd find in a monastery, incredibly soothing.

I suddenly realized how long it had been since I last attended a sermon, something that once brought me immense peace. Leaving the billiards hall, I headed straight for the Silent Wisdom Temple, and along the way, I figured out a way to protect myself. So, by the time I arrived at the Silent Wisdom Temple, I was in high spirits.

Master Mathew was delivering a sermon, and I found a spot to sit down, ready to meditate and listen intently.NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.