And once Eric was involved, every step forward seemed like a slide further in, like she wasn’t walking of her own will anymore.
Later that afternoon, Joy’s tutor arrived.
The woman came every day, giving Joy lessons to prepare her for school.
The idea was to help her transition smoothly when the time came. Hadley showed her upstairs to Joy’s room. She was coming back down when Eric walked in through the front door.
“Hadley.”
He sounded slightly winded, his hair a little messy—he’d clearly rushed back.
“You’re back already?” Her tone was light, almost amused. “I thought you had work. Isn’t the office waiting for you?”
Eric stepped closer, reaching for her hand, his eyes fixed on her. “You said you’d wait. We were supposed to leave together. Why did you go ahead?”
Hadley blinked, still smiling.
“I just didn’t feel like waiting anymore,” she said, shrugging slightly. “So I left. What, are you here to hold me to it? Do we do that now? Because if we are, maybe we should talk about the promises you’ve broken too.”
Eric opened his mouth, but no words came out. He shook his head, stammering. “I’m not trying to blame you. I’m just… worried, Hadley. I’m worried about you.”
“Worried about what?” she asked, her smile bitter. “That I’ll run off?” She gave a low, humorless laugh. “I wish I could. But we both know I can’t. I don’t even have the option.”
Her eyes shimmered, a glassy layer of tears forming.
“Even if I wanted to leave, I’m stuck—trapped in this same cycle, over and over again…”
“Hadley!” Eric pulled her into his arms, the ache in his chest tightening.
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“It won’t go on forever. It won’t.”
“No?” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with disbelief. “And how can you be so sure? Look at her. Look at your mother. She still hasn’t gotten better.”
“That has nothing to do with us!” he insisted, his hand gently pressing against her back, as if trying to anchor her to him. “It’s you I care about. Only you. After everything that happened… my feelings for her changed. I swear, it was just an accident. Please… believe me.”
Leaning against his shoulder, Hadley let out a faint, dry laugh.
Believe him? What difference would it make?
Even if she did, something else would happen. Something always did. Linda wasn’t just part of his past—she was a curse. No matter what happened, she always found a way back into his life.
Hadley’s lashes fluttered closed. She felt so tired. When would this end?
Around five, Hadley came back in from the garden, holding Joy’s hand. Chapters first released on find?novel.net
The late afternoon light poured through the windows.
Eric was already there. Again?
So early?
.
.
.