So Elissa wasn’t here after all.

Ernest managed a strained smile. “We just disagreed. Things got a bit heated.”

His concern grew. “Do you have any idea where else she might go?”

Hadley hesitated. “Maybe she’s with her grandfather? They’re close, after all.”

“You’re right.” Ernest nodded, relief showing in his voice.

“You’re a lifesaver, Hadley. Thanks. I’ll get going now. Sorry for bothering you.”

He moved through the room in a flash, hardly stopping before heading out again.

Hadley snapped to attention and nudged Eric. “What are you waiting for? Take your medicine.”

Without pausing to hear what he might say, she turned and climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Eric glanced down at the bowl of medicine and let out a small, helpless groan.

That had been Hadley’s mood for days.

She never raised her voice, but she stayed distant, never giving him a hint of a smile.

In her bedroom, Hadley reached for her phone and quickly typed a message to Elissa.

“Where did you go? Did you and Ernest argue? He just came here looking for you.”

She stared at her screen, hoping for a reply, but none came.

The door creaked open, and Eric walked in.

Though she heard him enter, she didn’t glance his way. Instead, she set the phone aside, rolled over, and hid under her blanket, shutting her eyes.

Eric didn’t seem bothered.

He crept over and settled onto the other side of the bed, always keeping his gaze on her.

Ltеst chαpt?rs in glovs.

With her back turned toward him, he tried once more to start a conversation. “Hadley, can we please talk? I want to work things out with you.”

Silence hung in the air.

She didn’t so much as flinch, pretending not to hear him.

A soft sigh escaped him. “Alright… I’ll let you rest. Goodnight.” He reached for the wall lamp and switched it off. Shadows swallowed the room.

Hadley lay still, eyes open, watching the narrow beam of light slip in around the curtains. Sleep would not come. She had skipped the medicine Hamza prescribed.

Restlessness was creeping back in, just like it had that year.

She stayed completely still, waiting for the sound of Eric’s breath to even out. When she was sure he had drifted off, she carefully peeled back the blanket and slipped out of bed, making her way to the bathroom. ? ?s? ?s Find_Novel(.)net

Inside, she opened a bottle of conditioner. The original contents were long gone. Instead, it was filled with her pills. She pulled a small pill bottle from inside, shook out a single tablet, broke it in half, and swallowed one piece dry. It was a sleeping pill, meant to bring her some rest.

After stashing the bottle away, Hadley noticed another, untouched bottle beside it.

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