"Sis-in-law, I can't believe you're also heading to Houston,

" Susie greeted me with the same bubbly enthusiasm she always had, calling me 'sis-in-law' as if nothing had changed., It was as if she was blissfully unaware of the gossip swirling around Ernest online, but I knew better. She had seen it, choosing instead to feign ignorance for the sake of our interaction. Despite being Ernest's sister, Susie was her own person, and the turmoil between Ernest and me wouldn't affect her feelings toward me.,

"Maybe you should start calling me just 'Licia,' not 'sis-in-law,' given...

" I let out a self-deprecating chuckle,

"your brother's decided to tie the knot with someone else.

", My words seemed to freeze the smile on Susie's face, and she looked on the verge of tears.,

"No,

" she shook her head vehemently,

"you're my sis-in-law, the only one I'll ever acknowledge. No one else will do.

", Though her words did little to mend my heart, they did offer a sliver of comfort to my fractured spirit., I couldn't help but cherish her all the more for it.,

"Licia, I swear, he still loves you,

" Susie suddenly raised her hand as if taking an oath., Seeing her gesture reminded me of the promise I had made to Ernest just the night before., I lowered her hand,

"Let's skip the vows for now. How can you be so sure he loves me?

",

"Licia, besides everything I've told you before, there was this one time... Ernest got really drunk, and I went to his room to bring him water in the middle of the night. I found him holding your stuffed bear, and he even mistook me for you, calling out your name... He seemed to be saying something about... asking you to wait for him, until he could sort things out and then make you his...

", My heart clenched. Could Ernest really have done that, or was Susie just spinning tales to make me feel better?,

"Licia, even the fact I'm on this flight is thanks to a ticket my brother bought,

" Susie added, catching me off guard.

"Did he know I'd be on this flight too?

",

"I'm not sure about that. I've been nagging him about going to see the baseball game for days, and he kept saying no Then suddenly today, he buys me a ticket. I think he knew you'd be on this flight and agreed just so I could keep you company,

" Susie reasoned. , It seemed too coincidental otherwise., But why would he, a man who had let me go, stage such an act?, I was puzzled, a question only Ernest could answer. Turning to Susie, I asked,

"So, you're into baseball now? You never mentioned that before.

", Susie's face twisted awkwardly, before she leaned closer and, whispered,

"Licia, it's not that I like baseball, it's that Mack Craig does. He's going to the game too. , Ah, so she was chasing love., Recalling how Mack had ghosted her after her confession, I couldn't help but ask,

"Did he get back in touch with you?

", Susie hummed a soft yes, then added quietly,

"He said he couldn't return my feelings, but that he was flattered by them. He suggested we stay friends.

"

"And you agreed to that?!

" Though I asked, I already knew the answer., Looking me straight in the eye, Susie said,

"Licia, I like him too much. I'm willing to step back and just be his friend if it means I can stay by his side.

" Such a foolish girl, harboring unrequited love like enduring a slow torture, each unreturned affection slicing deeper into her heart.,

"Susie, one day you're going to regret this,

" I warned her.,

"I'll deal with regret when it comes., For now, just being able to see him, to interact with him like before, makes me happy,

" Susie said contentedly, her eyes gleaming with infatuation. en FindNovel.net, Seeing her so ensnared, I didn't have the heart to say more, only asking,

"So, this baseball game, was it Mack who asked you to go?

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