“Yes?” Hadley lowered the window, her brow creasing with puzzlement. “Is something amiss?”

“Eric is here to take you home,” Ernest replied, gesturing toward a car parked across the street. “He is heading over now.”

“Oh.” Hadley’s eyes widened, caught off guard by the news.

“You should step out,” Ernest said, smoothly opening the car door with practiced ease.

“Okay.” Hadley nodded, turning to Elissa with a reassuring glance. “I’m off, but you know where to find me if you need me.”

“I know.” Elissa mustered a faint, wistful smile. “Go on, then.” Find the newest release on findnovel.net

“Alright.”

“Hadley!”

Eric’s voice rang out the moment Hadley’s foot touched the pavement.

He jogged across the street, halting before her with a warm grin.

He then acknowledged Ernest. “Hi, Ernest.”

“Eric.” Ernest returned a curt nod, waving dismissively. “It’s getting late. We should be on our way.”

“Safe ride,” Eric replied.

Ernest didn’t look back or return to the car behind. Instead, he slipped into the one where Elissa waited.

Hadley and Eric stood shoulder to shoulder, watching as the car pulled away, its taillights fading into the evening’s embrace.

“Hadley.” Eric’s gaze softened as he looked at her. “Shall we?” Their driver had already maneuvered the car to meet them.

Eric stepped forward, opening the door with a gallant flourish. “After you.”

“Thank you.” Hadley moved forward, her steps measured, her eyes lingering on Eric. She paused abruptly, her gaze narrowing as a thought struck her.

Ernest and Eric were like two peas in a pod.

Though no blood tied them, fate had woven their features into an uncanny likeness. Even the mischievous glint in their eyes mirrored one another, as if they shared a secret jest with the universe.

“What is the matter?” Eric asked, bemused by Hadley’s sudden stillness.

Hadley blinked, shaking off her reverie. “Nothing at all. Let’s go.”

At the stroke of six in the morning, Eric rose as he had each dawn of late. Slipping from the room, he closed the door with a whisper, leaving the house in silence.

The faint click of the lock was the signal Hadley had been waiting for. Her eyes snapped open, and she cast aside the covers, rising with purpose. She padded to the bathroom, her movements swift and deliberate.

From the cabinet, she retrieved a bottle marked conditioner, its label a ruse concealing sleeping pills. She carefully split one in half.

The previous night, half a pill had granted her only a fleeting three hours of sleep, a fragile respite.

Harnza had warned her not to take more than half a pill within four hours, so she stayed awake, waiting for the moment to take the other half.

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