No More Waiting, She Chooses Love novel Chapter 369

Grant inviting me out for dinner was a surprise I didn't see coming, especially after Ernest had whispered about it in my ear while I was getting my blood drawn.

I thought he was just trying to distract me, making up stuff to keep my mind off the needle. Turns out, he wasn't just blowing smoke.

"Grant?" Ernest's question couldn't have been clearer.

"Yeah," I looked at him squarely, "Ernest, you had a hand in this, didn't you?"

After all, Ernest was the big shot pulling the strings behind the scenes. A single word from him, and Grant would jump to it.

Ernest frowned slightly. "No."

I let out a scoff, taking his denial as an attempt to keep his influence under wraps.

"He told me about it in advance," Ernest added, trying to clear the air.

But was that really how it went down?

I couldn't be bothered to guess. It is a free meal, after all. "I've said yes. Are you coming?" I asked, a bit cheekily.

"Mhm," he replied succinctly, but then he added, "I don't make a habit of letting my girlfriend dine alone with other men."

There was Ernest, laying down the law in his own boss-like way.

Susie, who was watching our exchange, was clearly fangirling on the sidelines.

"Bro, you're so sweet, super sweet to your girl," Susie couldn't help herself.

Ernest just shrugged as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Of course."

"Licia," Susie turned to me, saying, "my brother's smoother than any romance novel hero, who would've thought?"

Susie probably figured her tough-guy brother wasn't one for sweet nothings.

"Don't underestimate the quiet ones; they're dark horses," I said, locking eyes with Ernest and thinking about how he's kept his true identity from me. "Your brother, in a different era, would have made a top-notch spy."

"Licia, is that one good? Let's share when it comes," Susie, like most girls, couldn't resist the allure of iced tea.

She didn't know I'd chosen it more for her than for me; iced tea was something I could take or leave.

"No problem," I said, watching Ernest leave, "Thanks, Mr. Collins."

After Ernest had gone, Susie leaned closer from her bed, "Licia, it's like the romance novels have come to life with you and my brother."

The sweetness had got to her.

I smiled lightly, "Those novels also have their share of ups and downs."

"Let's not have any of that," Susie said with naïve perfectionism, "With you and my brother, it should only be happiness and joy, no sadness or parting."

She was at that age, full of ideals. I used to be the same, dreaming that my love story with Conrad would follow the book to a happy ending.

"Licia, are you worried about something? Did you and my brother have a fight, or did he hurt you somehow?" Susie quickly became concerned, sensing something might be off.