No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 401


Herschel's struggle to speak was so palpable that tears instantly flooded my eyes.

I had seen Herschel in many lights - bold, towering, a force to be reckoned with. But never like this, so frail and diminished.

"Don't cry, Felicia... don't cry," Herschel said, mustering his strength to lift his hand, aiming to wipe away my tears.

I clasped his hand firmly, using my own shirt to dab at my eyes instead.

Wait!

The shirt wasn't mine; it belonged to Conrad.

He had whisked me away from the hotel, at a time when I was merely in my pajamas. Once we got into his car, he offered his jacket to me.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

I had wanted to refuse, but clad only in a spaghetti strap nightgown, I wasn't in a state to meet anyone. So, I accepted, and had been wearing it ever since.

"Yeah, no more tears," I said, lifting my tear-streaked face, managing a strained smile.

Herschel looked at me, his gaze tender yet filled with complexity, unsettling me. I gripped his hand tighter. "Herschel, you're going to be okay. You have to be."

"I know my own body," Herschel's voice was so weak, his words barely discernible.

He had weathered so many storms in his life, always with clarity and reason.

"Felicia, you remind me of your mother," Herschel suddenly said.

That remark brought to mind Judie, that girl who was a stranger yet shared a striking resemblance to me.

Sadly, Judie and I never exchanged a word.

She must be happy in another world by now.

"My mom must have been beautiful, then," I said with a smile.

Herschel also smiled faintly. "Yes, your mother was... she was also very kind-hearted."

"Like Jacqueline, right?" I skillfully continued.

Herschel's eyelids fluttered. "Felicia, you... are a good kid. You will... find happiness."

I understood his sentiment; he felt regret and guilt about Conrad's and my situation.

"Yeah, I'm happy now. Ernest treats me well," I didn't want him to dwell on what Conrad owed me.

Herschel didn't reply, just watched me.

Since I entered, since he first saw me, his gaze hadn't left me.

Earlier, he mentioned he had something to tell me, and Conrad had flown me here on his private jet specifically for this meeting. The nurse had mentioned we only had two minutes, so I asked, "Herschel, what did you want to tell me?" 

"Felicia," Herschel called me, "Stop looking into your parents' accident."

I froze, shocked that this was what Herschel wanted to say.

After a moment, I swallowed the dryness in my throat. "Why? Herschel, why can't I look into it?"

Herschel's eyes flickered briefly. "Because... I want you to be happy."

What did my happiness have to do with investigating my parents' accident?

"Felicia, listen to me, stop looking into it..." he advised again.

I remained silent.

A few seconds later, Herschel sighed, looking at me. "You, child you look like your mother, but your stubbornness... that's all Joe."

"Herschel, there's more to my parents accident, isn't there?" I wasn't  foolish; Herschel's insistence had to have a reason.