“Eric?” Ernest’s voice cut through it, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the shift in the other man’s expression.

In a burst of anger, he turned and shouted, “Shut your mouth, Linda! That’s enough!”

But Linda wasn’t finished—not even close.

“Come on, then!” She shoved Ernest’s arm away and flung her hands out toward Eric. “Go on! Drag me to her! Take me to Hadley right now!”

That was the final blow.

Everything around Eric dimmed. His knees buckled as darkness swallowed his vision, and he crumpled backward without a word.

“Eric!” Ernest’s voice cracked as he lunged forward, catching him just in time.

Had Eric fallen, had his head hit the floor, things could have turned fatal with the blood clot in his brain. s ? ?s

Holding Eric tightly, Ernest trembled with rage. His eyes blazed as they locked on Linda. “What the hell did you do? Is it not enough until you push him into the grave?”

Linda stood paralyzed, eyes wide as Eric collapsed before her.

“No…” she whispered, her voice cracking. She shook her head, stunned. “I didn’t think… it would go this far…”

“You didn’t think?” Ernest retorted, his laugh sharp and hollow. “What part of ‘shut up’ did you not understand?” Without sparing her another glance, he crouched down, lifted Eric onto his shoulder, and bolted for the door.

“Somebody! Get the car now!” His shout, along with his footsteps, echoed through the hallway as he rushed toward the exit.

“Call the hospital,” he yelled over his shoulder. “Tell them we’re coming. Emergency intake. I want a team at the ER doors. And…”

He stopped mid-stride, hesitating as another thought crossed his mind—then let it go. This one, he’d handle himself. He would call Hadley directly. He had to.

More to discover gα?ησνe?s?c?m

With Eric in the backseat, Ernest floored the accelerator and tore off toward the hospital.

Back upstairs, the room had fallen into a heavy silence.

“I didn’t mean to…” Linda murmured to no one, wringing her trembling hands. Her eyes stared at the door as if hoping it would open again. “Eric… I never meant to hurt you… I didn’t…”

A sudden jolt of clarity snapped Linda out of her daze. She spun her wheelchair toward the doorway, urgency propelling her forward.

Sitting still wasn’t an option—not now. She had to get to the hospital. She had to know if Eric was okay.

“Please, Eric,” she murmured under her breath, panic tightening her chest. “You have to be all right…”

But just as her hand reached for the doorknob, a figure stepped into her path.

Jane, her loyal caregiver, blocked the exit.

“Jane,” Linda’s brow furrowed in frustration. “Perfect timing. Help me down the stairs. Get the car ready—I need to go. Now.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Harris,” Jane replied, her expression uneasy. “Mr. Flynn gave strict instructions. You’re not to leave the house.”

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