NovelEnglishWith a scream that could shatter glass, the tension was palpable.
"Don't provoke her," the firefighter warnedagain, but Conrad interrupted him.
It seemed Conrad knew Haley wasn't really out for death; she was just bluffing. So, my provocations wouldn't reach her.
Right now, her act was just that—an act, making everyone believe she was on the brink of breakdown, genuinely seeking an end.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSure enough, after her howl, she turned her gaze toand Conrad. "I know you think I'm just trying to scare you, that I wouldn't actually jump, just trying to squeeze money out of this. Well, today, I'll show you if I'm serious about dying or just pretending." With those words, she stepped back further.
Watching her retreat, my heart trembled. Even if she didn't intend to jump, a misstep or loss of balance could send her plummeting regardless.
My eyes fell on her visibly pregnant belly. I didn't know how many months along she was, but Conrad and I had been apart for over half a year, so the baby must've been at least six or seven months along. She might deserve her fate, but the innocent child, who hadn't even seen the world yet, didn't.
Still, a misguided sense of mercy stirred within me. I knew sweet-talking Haley was futile, but pleading might just play into her hands.
Considering her greed, I went straight for the jugular, "Haley, you can jump now, but with everyone here as witnesses, it'll be deemed suicide. You'll gain nothing, and all this will have been for nothing, including sacrificing a man who deeply loved you." Haley's eyes widened, a picture of sorrow, "I've got nothing left anyway. My in-laws disown me, and my own family won't have me." It was clear Haley was having a rough time, resorting to such drastic measures. Even her own brother had betrayed her.
"Felicia, if you don't wantto jump, if you're scared ofdying, then just hand Conrad over, let him marry me." Haley's words were as laughable as they were tragic.
Laughable because she was treating Conrad like an object, not a person.
Tragic because I had already broken up with Conrad, and she still thought he rejected her because of me.
"You're mistaken. I'm not afraid of you dying. If you did, everyone could finally find peace, go their separate ways," my words, more provocative with each utterance, left the firefighters dumbfounded Haley hadn't expected her usual manipulations to fail againstbecoming visibly agitated, "Felicia, you're truly vicious. I know you wantdead, just so you can snatch Conrad back." Such a foolish notion.
Did she think everyone was like her, not minding the leftovers? Even if Conrad was now "available" after being tainted by her, I wouldn't pick him up, not even if she didn't want him anymore.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut, to prevent her from doing something foolish, I played along, "Exactly, so go ahead and jump. Then + can reunite with Conrad, becMrs. Wagner, enjoying the life of a wealthy socialite." "Not in your wildest dreams!" Haley was, predictably, unwilling to play into my hands.
I genuinely couldn't fathom what grudge she held against me, to harbor such hatred.
"Don't want to seehappy? Then drop the melo. If you, Haley, truly have the guts, compete withfair and square," I challenged her.
"Compete?" She scoffed derisively. "How could I possibly compete? You've had ten years with him, his parents already see you as their daughter-in-law. What chance do I have against you?" For once, she showed sself-awareness and acknowledged her disadvantage.
If she had cto this realization sooner, things wouldn't have reached this point.
"I've got nothing left. I just wanted a better life. What's so wrong about e that?" Haley Haley murmured quietly. She wasn't wrong, but did that make everyone else wrong? Was it justifiable for her to snatch someone else's fiancé?
Her emotions crumbled bit by bit, nearing breakdown noticedo m firefighters scaling the building. My anxiety peaked, watching them inch closer to rescue her.
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