No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 846
"Do you want to hear the truth?" Ernest asked me, his voice calm and steady.
"You promised you wouldn't lie to me," I replied, a hint of accusation in my tone. He had indeed promised, but he had already
broken that vow once before.
"Licia, I had my reasons for lying before," Ernest said, his clear eyes meeting mine earnestly. "But from now on, I swear I won't
lie to you again."
I lowered my head slightly, a faint smile playing on my lips. "Let's not talk about the future anymore," I said softly. "Let's just focus
on the present."
When I was a kid, my parents painted bright pictures of the future for me, but they left before I could see it come to life. Later,
Conrad promised me a lifetime together, but he veered off course. And Dustin, he once ruffled my hair and vowed to always take
care of me, yet he let bitterness lead him astray.

Even Ernest promised to be with me forever, though he nearly got engaged to Yolande. So, I stopped dreaming about the future.
I didn't want the promises of tomorrow. I only wanted the certainty of today.
For a moment, Ernest's eyes darkened, but he nodded. "Alright."
He mentioned he needed to see Conrad. I didn't ask why. If he wanted to go, he could. But when he couldn't reach Conrad on
his phone, he turned to me. "His phone's not connecting. Do you have another way to reach him?"
"The Wagner family and the company," I said, thinking aloud. "But the company's been shut down because of Dustin's mess, and
he probably wouldn't go back to the Wagner's. After Herschel and Jacqueline left, it must be hard for him. Why would he go back
to an empty home?"
"Where else could he be? Any friends who might know?" Ernest asked.
I thought for a moment before dialing Ivan. "Ivan, do you know where Conrad is? I can't reach him."
Ivan hesitated for a moment. "Ms. Hudson, I was just about to contact you."
I wasn't particularly interested in what he wanted, so I pressed on. "And Conrad?"

"Mr. Wagner is at the Silent Wisdom Retreat," Ivan finally said.
I was taken aback. Why would he go there again?

"Thanks, I got it," I said and was about to hang up when Ivan stopped me.
"Ms. Hudson, when can we meet? There's something I need to discuss with you," Ivan said, his tone suggesting it wasn't
something he could say over the phone. "Is it urgent?" I asked.
"It would be best to meet in the next couple of days," Ivan replied, always courteous.
"Tomorrow then. I'm heading to see Conrad today," I said. I was going with Ernest, but I also wanted to see Conrad for myself.
The last time I saw him was during the chaos with Allen, and it was brief.
"Alright, let's meet at two in the afternoon at the café next to the company. Does
that work?" Ivan suggested, efficiently setting the time and place.
"See you tomorrow," I agreed.
After hanging up, Ernest and I drove to the Silent Wisdom Retreat. The
vel?
drive was silent, my thoughts lingering on Master Mathew and
Mrs. Clark, who had perished in the fire. sŵnovel
When we arrived, I noticed the retreat had been restored, with visitors bustling about as they did in the past. It took asking a few
people before we found Conrad. But when I saw him there, sitting quietly in monk's robes, his head shaved, I was stunned.
Ernest looked equally surprised. We stood there, speechless.
Conrad glanced up at us, his expression serene and calm. "Please, join us for a
moment of reflection," he invited, gesturing to the seats beside him.