If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that some people have the thick skin of a rhinoceros. And Haley? She's the queen of them all., When I saw her strolling towards me, a single thought flashed through my mind: Shameless people are invincible. In a world where morals should matter, you'd think someone like her, playing the other woman would at least have the decency to avoid the wife. But nope. Here we are, in a time where shame is apparently a forgotten concept., She strutted up with that

"look at me, aren't I fabulous?

" attitude that really got under my skin.,

"Felicia, fancy seeing you here,

" Haley chimed, her eyes darting to Ernest beside me, though they'd been glued to him since she arrived. It's like she couldn't peel her gaze away from him, as if by some magnetic force., And honestly, I didn't even want to start describing how attractive Ernest was; it was like everyone, young or old, couldn't help but sneak an extra glance his way. The best proof was Ethel back in my neighborhood, always sneaking peeks.,

"Yeah, what a coincidence,

" I replied, my tone anything but warm. It wasn't that I was petty; I just couldn't stand her smugness, acting all high and mighty while trying to play the victim., Had she been upfront about her interest in Conrad, I might have backed off. But no, she chose to step on every single one of my nerves, so any discomfort she felt was on her., Sure enough, my sharp words seemed to hit a nerve, making her visibly uncomfortable. With Conrad not here, who was she trying to impress? Ernest?, Everyone has a bit of vanity, thinking they're the most attractive person in the room. Haley, with her decent looks, probably had that in spades, especially now, playing the young widow in need of a good man. But hadn't she latched onto Conrad already? What was with this wandering eye every time a decent man walked by? Was she only interested in the men around me?, Even though Ernest and I were nothing, I didn't like the idea of Haley setting her sights on him. Watching her antics, I couldn't help but mock,

"Ms. Perez, here for the maternity special? The menu here is indeed excellent, quite fitting for someone in your... delicate condition.

", Her face turned from red to white, a clear giveaway of her embarrassment, especially with a quick glance at Ernest., I couldn't help but laugh. It was so obvious she was putting on a show to get Ernest's attention. Was she trying to keep her options open, with Conrad just one of many?, The idea that Conrad might not be her only target was both surprising and, in a twisted way, satisfying. I wondered how Conrad would feel, knowing he was just one fish in Haley's pond.,

"Ready to order?

" a server approached us, breaking the awkward tension.,

"Yes, let's find a nice spot,

" I said, eager to leave Haley and her drama behind., Walking alongside Ernest, I leaned a bit closer to him, perhaps closer than intended, and stumbled slightly., Ernest, ever the gentleman, quickly steadied me by the shoulder and didn't let go until I moved away from him. We then settled into the seats the server had guided us to, with Ernest never once asking who Haley was. His respect for boundaries was truly refreshing.,

"What do you feel like eating? Pick whatever you want,

" I said, scanning the QR code for the menu and handing my phone to Ernest., This time, he took the task seriously, carefully browsing through the choices, occasionally tapping the screen., Meanwhile, I glanced out the window and saw Haley on a call. Was she talking to Conrad?, My question was answered when I spotted Conrad's car pulling up. He got out, opened the door for Haley with such care, an act of chivalry he had never extended to me during our time together. It was a stark reminder of the difference between being someone's priority and being an afterthought., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.