“You look incredible. It’s distracting.”

“Gee.” A gentle laugh escaped Hadley’s lips as she rested her chin in her palm. “Honestly, you’re such a weirdo sometimes.”

“Me?” Eric tilted his head, confused but curious. “What makes me a weirdo?”

Lifting a finger, Hadley gestured to her own face. “Do I look that different from before? Maybe I’ve changed a bit, sure—but it’s still the same face. So why didn’t you care about me back then?”

Eric’s throat tightened. “I… _”

“Just finish the medicine,” Hadley said flatly, rising from her chair and leaving the room. Was she upset?

“Wait, Hadley!” Eric rushed to down the last of his medicine, heart racing as he scrambled to follow her.

By the time he reached the bedroom, Hadley had already slipped into the closet, emerging moments later with clothes in hand. Without slowing down, she walked straight toward the bathroom.

“Are you upset with me?” Catching up to her, Eric gently grabbed her wrist and asked, trying to soften the moment with a pleading look.

“Of course I am,” Hadley replied without flinching, her gaze steady. “You didn’t want me then. So what’s changed now?”

“I’m sorry,” Eric muttered, holding her close. With his head lowered to her ear, he added in a quiet voice, “I couldn’t see it before… and I don’t even know what stopped me.”

“Let go.” Hadley exhaled, her eyes closing for a second, clearly unimpressed with his response.

“Hadley.” Instead of releasing her, Eric only tightened his hold. “Ernest is already there.”

“He is?” Hadley went still, lifting her gaze to meet his. “He reached out to you?”

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“He did.” Eric gave a small nod, his hand rising to gently touch her cheek. “He called me after he landed this afternoon.”

No reply came from Hadley. The silence stretched between them.

So, Ernest and Linda had arrived in Aradimen safely. No incidents. No setbacks. And with that, the woman she never wanted to see again was finally gone—from both the city and her life.

“Do you want a shower?” ? Find?Novel.net

Eric could tell Hadley was beginning to ease in his arms, her tension slowly fading.

After reaching for her clothes, he set them aside. “How about we shower together? I’ll even scrub your back.”

“Knock it off! I don’t need you doing that!”

“You absolutely do,” Eric said, pulling her toward the shower. “Let’s rinse off first, and then relax in a bath. I’ll even use that rose oil you love. How does that sound?”

Outside the fogged-up shower glass, clothes began to fly—one item at a time—landing in a heap on the floor.

“Eric!” Hadley’s voice rang out in protest. “Did you seriously tear the strap off my dress?”

“Maybe I did. Don’t worry. I’ll get you another one,” Eric said with zero regret.

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