No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

I couldn't help but laugh as I took his words, "Don't tell me you mistook her for me."

"I...," Conrad began, his eyes meeting mine before I cut him off.

"Conrad, it's not like you've been kissing me much either, have you?"

His expression soured instantly.

We'd been in a relationship for over three years; sure, there had been hand-holding and cuddling, but passionate kisses were almost non-existent. If he did kiss me, it was always on the hand, cheek, or forehead. Even on the rare occasions our lips touched, it was nothing more than a brief peck.

My words left Conrad speechless and visibly agitated. He suddenly let go of me, running his hand through his hair. "Yes, I'm the jerk who got carried away and kissed her. But it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing; it doesn't mean anything."

"Only sleeping together means something, right?" I retorted sarcastically.

Conrad's frustration boiled over. "Is that what you think of me? that I am such a shameless person? If I were that kind of guy, wouldn't I have made a move on you long ago instead of where we are today?"

His words caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but laugh. Was he implying that had he 'made a move' on me, I wouldn't be making a fuss now? What era did he think we were living in, where a woman could only be with one man?

I decided not to delve into that mess but hit him where it hurt instead. "Or maybe you're just not interested in me, and that's why nothing happened, right?"

Only then did I realize how his words, though aimed to wound me, became my weapon against him.

He widened his eyes. "So, we can't get past this, can we?"

"We're already past it; we've broken up. It's you who keeps bringing up old issues," I reminded him.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"Broken up?" Conrad scoffed. "Felicia, don't think I don't know. You left me to be with Ernest. You've been cozying up to him, staying together at Galaxy Harbor."

It didn't surprise me that he knew

about Galaxy Harbor; his mother had mentioned it. But to think that way about Ernest and me? We only got to know each other after Conrad and I had ended things.

"If that's what you want to believe, go ahead. But for the record, Ernest and I only got to know each other after we broke up. Not like you, going behind your brother's back with his wife," I shot back, no jonger hotding back against Conrad's unreasonable accusations.

I could tell that his affair with Haley made him very excited.

His face contorted with emotion, a mix of guilt and something else.

"So now you're defending Ernest, refusing to let him go. Is this all just a ploy to mix business with pleasure?" Conrad's ability to turn the tables was, admittedly, impressive.

"Mr. Wagner, if you say so," I didn't deny it.

Conrad was about to explode with anger. "Felicia, I could have him ousted from the industry right now, do you believe me?"

"Yeah, I believe you!" I met his gaze squarely. "If he goes, I go. If he disappears, I'll follow."

Conrad pointed a finger at me, speechless.

"Conrad, you were the one who betrayed our relationship. You made it tiresome, and now when I'm moving on, you cling. Doesn't that devalue you?" spared him no courtesy.

"I'm clinging? I just don't want you falling off the right path. You have no idea how sinister men can be in this world," Conrad attempted to adjust his demeanor.

"No need to wonder. You've given me a pretty clear picture," my response stopped him in his tracks.

He stared at me, slowly realizing that in my eyes, he was exactly that kind of man.

Cutting to the chase about our argument's crux, I stated firmly, "Conrad, let me make it clear. As long as Ernest is here, so am 4f you dare move him out or do anything of the sort, I'll follow suit."

With those words, I turned and walked away, not seeing the dejected slump of his shoulders or the desolate look in his eyes, as if he had lost his entire world.