I shook my head helplessly.

"She should know who the father is. If you're really curious, you might as well just ask her directly.

", Deborah snorted.

"As if I have the time for that. I'd rather spend my moments swooning over Mr. Collins.

", Hearing her mention Ernest, I remembered he hadn't come back yet. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I circled around asking,

"So, are you chatting with me because you're off work, or did you find another 'bathroom break' excuse to slack off?

",

"Hey, what are you implying? Am I that sort of person?

" protested Deborah.

"Our Mr. Collins has become quite the understanding boss lately, letting us off work early.

"

"Oh? How early did you guys finish today?

",

"Half an hour ago. I'm already home, just lounging on the couch,

" Deborah remarked, and by then, I had already calculated the time Ernest should have been back. But I hadn't heard any signs of him. Maybe he got held up.,

"With you guys knocking off this early and no overtime, do you think you'll meet the deadline?

" I inquired., Deborah seemed to be drinking something or munching on a snack, judging from the clear swallowing sound I heard.

"Mr. Collins says we will.

",

"Can you believe him? Don't fall for his smooth talk. If you don't meet the deadline, you're the ones who'll lose out, especially with your bonuses on the line,

" I warned her., She coughed twice.

"I think we can make it. We've already moved on to section D, and the progress is swift each day, almost no new issues. It's just work and go now.

", Deborah then clicked her tongue twice.

"Felicia, it's funny though. When you were here, it was like, not just every other day, but every single day there was an issue. We always had to go sort it out in Mr. Collins' office. But ever since you left, poof, no more problems. Makes me miss the chance to pop into Mr. Collins' office for a chat. Ah, now I just wish for some issues so I could... hehe...

" The little minx was getting carried away with her thoughts., I quickly cut her off.

"Maybe I was a jinx, just not compatible with Mr. Collins, and that's why we always had problems. Now that I'm gone, everything's fine.

",

"Hmph,

" Deborah disagreed.

"Don't play dumb with me. I don't think it's about incompatibility. Felicia, be honest, is there something going on between you and Mr. Collins?

", Thinking of my pretend relationship with Ernest, I guiltily denied.

"What are you talking about?

",

"Felicia, you don't have to hide it from me. If you and Mr. Collins really had something, it wouldn't be so bad,

" Deborah surprisingly supported., I still refuted,

"Nothing like that, stop imagining things.

",

"Felicia, Mr. Collins moved out of the motel. I heard he rented a place to stay,

" Deborah spilled the beans., Feigning ignorance, I responded,

"Is that so?

",

"I heard he's planning to settle down in Seabreeze City. And, apparently, he's investigating his dad's or mom's death,

" Deborah's voice, even through the phone, was lowered.

"Felicia, did you know about this?' I honestly didn't. Ernest renting a place and his investigation were news to me.,

"Felicia, I heard his family member died in a car accident...

", As someone who lost her parents in a car accident, my heart sank hearing this., I made up an excuse and hung up, staring blankly at the family portrait on the wall., Was my parents' car accident truly an accident?, That thought unexpectedly crossed my mind., Time passed, and just before 7 PM, with no sound from across the hall, I decided to call Ernest., But he didn't answer., I wasn't sure if he was busy or had a last-minute change of heart about meeting., So, I grabbed my stuff, ready to head over to the Wagner family on my own. Opening my door, I found that Ernest's door was ajar, not fully closed., He was back? How did I not hear him?, Confused, I pulled open his door and stepped in.

"Ernes...

", The word 't' got stuck in my throat, as the sight before me froze me on the spot., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.