But Hadley barely reacted. Her body swayed, fragile and unsteady, as if the weight of everything might pull her to the ground.

“And what does that even mean?” she asked, her voice trembling. “You only love me when we’re alone. The second Linda shows up, your heart tilts—always toward her.”

“Hadley…” Eric’s voice finally broke through the tension. “I never loved her. Everything I carry inside—both sides of that scale—it’s you.”

Hadley scoffed, the sound disbelieving.

“Let’s say that’s true. Maybe you never loved her. But how you treat her? That’s not imagination. That’s real.”

Eric tried to protest, searching for the right words. “You know it’s just gratitude. She saved my life…” Chapters first released on find(?)ovel.net

“No, I don’t want that excuse again!” Hadley interjected, steel in her voice. Her eyes locked on his, unwavering. “You’re mine now. I can’t and won’t tolerate anyone else taking up space in your heart.”

Without warning, her tears stopped, as if a faucet had been abruptly shut.

“Call me unreasonable if you want,” she said quietly. “But because of her, you turned your back while I suffered through every second of those four years in Blathe.”

She snapped, yanking her arm from his grip. “Tell me, Eric. How am I supposed to live with this? Now let me go!”

Her laugh came hollow, sharp, devoid of joy. Her eyes locked on him as she said, “You’re the reason Linda got to watch me fall apart. You made me the fool.”

With a swift twist of her body, she shoved him aside and bolted up the stairs.

“Hadley!” The push knocked Eric off balance. He staggered for a moment but quickly regained his footing and ran after her.

But his legs weren’t fast enough. By the time he reached the landing, her bedroom door was already swinging shut.

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He arrived just in time to see it close with finality, shutting him out completely.

“Hadley!” he pleaded, pressing his palm flat against the door, his other hand half-raised to knock—then he froze.

He couldn’t bring himself to make a sound.

It was too late in the night. Any noise might wake Joy.

Still, leaving wasn’t an option. He stayed rooted to the spot, his voice low, desperate. “Hadley… can you hear me? Please. Just open the door. Just talk to me.”

Inside the room, Hadley leaned her back against the door, her head tilting upward toward the ceiling as if the air alone could steady her.

Whatever strength she had clung to moments ago drained from her body. Her knees gave out, and she slowly sank until she was curled on the floor. She’d already shed so many tears tonight, but none of it matched the storm breaking open inside her now.

Her eyes squeezed shut, and she bit down on her lip, trying to silence the broken sobs spilling from her throat.

Only days ago, she had promised Colleen she wouldn’t dig up the past. She’d convinced herself that doing so would only stir more pain—for him, not just for her.

Yet he had known all along.

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