No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 847
This wasn't new to me. Over the years, I'd accompanied him here many times to listen to sermons. But I never imagined that one
day, I would be here to listen to him speak, especially as a monk.
Ernest gently helped me sit down as Conrad began his sermon. He was talking about the Heart Sutra, but I couldn't take in a
single word.
I watched him, thinking about his recent odd behavior, and realized that his desire to leave the secular world behind had been
brewing for a long time. Even though he was physically present in this world, his heart had long been elsewhere.
So, when his parents passed away, he wasn't overwhelmed by grief. He faced it with a calm acceptance that was almost
otherworldly.
He had seen beyond the illusion of life and death, treating it all with serene indifference.
When Conrad finished speaking, he came over to where Ernest and I were sitting. He clasped his hands together and
murmured, "Peace be with you."
In that moment, tears began to fall down my face. "Conrad, how could you do this?"
I thought I had come to terms with many things, but I couldn't accept this version of him.
"I feel at peace and truly happy, without any burdens," Conrad said, looking at me with eyes as clear as a mountain lake.
I wanted to say something, but his gaze left me speechless.

Considering everything he had been through over the past year, maybe this was the right path for him.
"Mr. Collins came to ask me about something, correct?" Conrad looked knowingly at Ernest.
"Yes, I wanted to know how you managed to handle the Clark family. While I was abroad, they were my biggest worry," Ernest
admitted.
Conrad didn't answer directly. Instead, he said, "Come with me."
Neither Ernest nor I knew what to expect, but we followed him without question.

The Silent Wisdom Temple was up in the hills, and the path was a bit rugged. Ernest held my hand protectively the whole way,
while Conrad occasionally glanced back at us before turning away again.
He didn't say a word, but I knew he still cared for me.
Conrad led us to a secluded part of the temple. Before we even entered, we could hear the rhythmic tapping of a wooden fish.
Peering through the doorway, I saw someone sitting in meditation, dressed in
simple robes. Though I couldn't see her face, a chill ran through me. "Mrs. Clark?!"
Conrad had told me she had perished in a fire.
It turned out he had deceived us all, including the Clark family.
Ernest and I quickly understood why the Clark family had been subdued-it was Mrs. Clark who held sway over them.
"Mrs. Clark is devoted to her meditation now, to atone for their sins," Conrad explained before looking at me. "She asked me to
give you something."
ět

From his robe, Conrad produced a small pouch and handed it to me
she
with both hands. "It's a charms
prayed over for 999 days. It's meant
to bring you peace and happiness."
I accepted it with both hands and bowed deeply toward the meditating Mrs. Clark.
"Felicia, the company has been shut
down, and won't be involved in

what happens next. I've asked Ivan to entrust everything to you, including the Wagner family's estate and cars. Do with them as
you see fit sell them or donate them."
It turned out Ivan's meeting was about this matter.
"Felicia, I'm giving you a wedding gift. It's the first money I ever earned
Please don't refuse it; consel
it's completely clean.
it a
dowry from your brother."
As Conrad said this, his eyes turned misty.
"Conrad..."
He shook his head, signaling for me to say no more.
I wasn't sure what to say anyway. Seeing him like this was hard.
"Ernest, take good care of her," Conrad said, bowing slightly before turning away.
I watched him in his monk's robes, and the tears flowed freely.