No More Waiting, She Chooses Love



Since ancient times, it seems women have often found themselves at a disadvantage, bearing the brunt of societal woes. In the past, women could easily be bartered in marriage as if they were mere commodities. During war, they were taken as comfort women, and even now, they're still being traded, treated like goods on a shelf.

It really riled me up. "So, he's a male model, huh? Does that mean he's also cherry-picking the crème de la crème?"

Ernest nodded. "Exactly, they deal in premium goods, regardless of gender."

That's when it clicked for me why Ernest was so keen on keeping his true identity hidden from Allen. Because Sapphire Lounge was the biggest player in the game, and if Allen found out that Phipps was just a façade, Ernest could kiss his investigation goodbye.

"But why hasn't Dustin spilled the beans to Allen? Isn't he worried about getting dragged down with the ship?" I was puzzled.

Ernest smirked, a twinkle in his eye. "That's where Dustin's cunning comes into play. Even though he has a stake in Sapphire Lounge, there's not a trace leading back to him. So, he's not worried. Plus..." Ernest paused, choosing his words carefully, "he probably wants Sapphire Lounge to go under."

Thinking about Dustin's ambition, it hit me. "He wants to monopolize the underground market once Sapphire Lounge is out of the picture?" Ernest chuckled, impressed. "Bingo."novelbin

"But isn't he scared you'll dismantle the wholework?" I pressed on.

This whole operation depended on supply and demand. Ernest, playing the long game, aimed to uproot the entire syndicate, not just put out the visible fires.

"Dustin's got his bases covered internationally, with guys like Brown and Henrik in his corner. They're the new breed, the future of the dark industries. If I take down this old guard, Dustin's perfectly positioned to spearhead the next wave," Ernest explained Dustin's fearless stance.

"So why not just take him down first? Stop him in his tracks?" I couldn't stand the thought.

"That's the plan," Ernest said, eyes locking with mine. "Besides, I'd do anything to keep him away from my wife."

He had a way of steering the conversation, but he wasn't wrong. Dustin's love was twisted, a possessive display meant to satisfy his own ego.

I fell silent, lost in thought. Ernest had dumped a lot of information on me.

"And what about Phipps?" After a moment, something else didn't add up.

Ernest had faked his death and slipped into Sapphire Lounge under Phipps' identity. But if Ernest was masquerading as Phipps, what happened to the real deal?

Ernest's silence spoke volumes. I could tell by his expression - Phipps was being held somewhere.

Ernest needed Phipps' face, his identity, to infiltrate the ranks. Phipps now a figurehead, wouldn't be easy to manipulate. So, Ernest played a game of deception, using Phipps' identity as a mask.

Everything started to make sense, yet the scenario was far more complex than I had imagined.

Ernest wasn't just up against Sapphire Lounge and the forces behind Phipps, but also plotting to take down Dustin. He was facing a multitude, an uphill battle.

"What's your next move? Especially now that Dustin's onto you. Will you continue pretending to be Phipps?" I asked, concerned.

"Of course," Ernest replied with unwavering certainty.

"And Dustin's okay with that?"

Ernest chuckled lightly. "Believe it or not, yes."

If that was the case, then Dustin was planning to use Ernest to eliminate the Clark family, keeping his hands clean. It was a classic move of using someone else to do the dirty work. I had once thought Dustin harmless, but his gentle demeanor hida terrifying agenda. It's a stark

reminder that appearances can be deceiving; Dustin was the perfect example.

"And he'll even come seeking a partnership," Ernest said with conviction.

This "partnership" was nothing more than a stepping stone for Dustin, a way to use Ernest as a pawn.

In any normal scenario, this would

be an immediate red flag, but Ernest had his own agenda, his own targets. Uncertain of his decision, I had to ask, "And you? Will you agree to his terms?"