Chapter 482


    ?


    On the ride back, I dialed Ernest''s number.


    This time, he picked up quickly. "Hello?"


    "Where are you?" I cut straight to the chase.


    There was a brief silence on the other end. Then he asked, "You''re back?"


    His few words choked me up. I had returned, but only because he pushed me to it.


    "Yes, where are you? I need to see you," I said firmly, my toneced with anger.


    "Come home, I''lle to you," Ernest''s response made me close my eyes in frustration.


    The next second, I spelled it out, "Ernest, are you not getting my point? I said, l-want-to-see-you."


    "I''m at home, and Susie''s here too," Ernest replied, but hisst few words made it clear he didn''t want me there, not wanting Susie to witness any conflict between us.


    Not to mention Susie''s fragile health, which couldn''t handle any shocks, her being around just made it tough for me to chat with Ernest.


    I didn''t push further. "Fine, I''ll wait at home."


    Hanging up, I looked out the car window, watching thendscape sh by.


    Stepping out of the car, I headed home.


    Upon entering the lobby, I ran straight into Haley Perez.


    She was all made up, looking much better than she did in the hospital.


    It seemed she was discharged, though her premature baby must still be in the incubator. I wondered if she had visited.


    Haley nced at my luggage and sneered, "Felicia Hudson, I thought you were above it all. Yet here you are, stringing Ernest along while still tangled up with Conrad."


    Clearly, she hadn''t given up on Conrad, knowing his whereabouts and, unsurprisingly, mine. This was to prevent any rekindling between Conrad and


    me.


    It looked like her interest in Conrad wasn''t just for maniption; she actually did have feelings for him.


    "Haley, I''m not in the mood today. So do yourself a favor and keep your mouth shut," I warned her. She wisely chose not to say more.


    However, as I was about to enter the elevator, she said, "Felicia, can we discuss a partnership?"


    I paused and looked at her. Haley smiled. "Maybe we can talk upstairs?"


    This woman had first threatened me by using


    wantanny Willis, and now sheet


    wanted to coborate. I couldn''t figure out her angle. Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    But one thing was clear: she couldn''t let go of me.


    And as for me, she had nothing to gain. Yet she still approached me, meaning she hadn''t given up on the Wagners.


    "No discussion, no time," I tly refused.


    Haley blocked the elevator door with her leg. "Felicia, you''lle looking for me. I''ll wait."


    Her confidence puzzled me, but I pressed the button to close the elevator doors.


    She watched me until the doors shut.


    I went upstairs, numbly entered my apartment, turned on the lights, took off my shoes, and sat down on the


    Cocontent belongs too!


    Ernest arrived half an hour after I got home. Unlike before, he didn''t just walk in but rang the doorbell.


    This action alone confirmed that his intention to break up wasn''t a spur-of-the-moment decision or out of anger.


    When I opened the door, there stood


    el.


    Ernest, still tall and imposing, but now d in a ck shirt and matching trousers instead of his usual T-shirt. Content belongs to


    én.swnovels


    The rugged charm I initially fell for was gone, and now he was the refined sessor of the Collins family.


    We stood there, eye to eye, neither of us speaking first. Ernest broke the silence. "May Ie in?"