Clutching the half-pill, Hadley prepared to swallow it dry, as had become her habit in recent days.

Then she recalled the water bottle she had left on the bedside table. With cautious steps, she returned to the bed, pill in hand, and settled on the edge.

She reached for the bottle, twisted off the cap, and slipped the tablet into her mouth.

Tilting her head back, she let the water carry the pill down her throat. Suddenly, a sharp click pierced the quiet.

The metallic sound jolted her, and Hadley’s breath caught as the door swung open.

Water sprayed from her lips in a startled gasp, and she turned toward the entrance, choking as a violent cough seized her. Her wide eyes locked on the figure stepping inside.

Eric stood framed in the doorway.

Hadn’t he just left? Why had he returned so suddenly?

“Hadley?” Eric’s voice carried a note of surprise, mirroring Hadley’s. Follow current nov?ls on find(?)ovel.net

He had come back for his watch, forgotten in his haste. Though his collection was vast, the matching pair he shared with Hadley held a singular place in his heart.

He hadn’t expected to find her awake at this hour.

Was she drinking water?

And now choking?

“Sorry, did I startle you?” Eric hurried to her side, concern etching his features as he reached out to pat her back. “Here, let me—”

“No need!” Hadley cut him off, waving him away as tears spilled from her coughing fit.

As he drew closer, she thrust out an arm to keep him at bay. “I’m fine… really, I’m… much better now!”

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“Better?” Eric’s brow furrowed, skepticism clouding his gaze. “You’re coughing up a storm. Did it go down the wrong way? Should we head to the hospital?”

“No…” Hadley gestured weakly toward him, her voice strained. “Just… pass me a tissue, please.”

“Right!” Eric snatched the tissue box, pulling out a handful and pressing them into Hadley’s hand. Then he knelt to mop up the water that had spilled onto the floor.

His movements halted abruptly as his eyes locked onto something. “What is this?”

Hadley doubled over with another coughing fit, barely aware of anything else for a moment.

Once the spell passed, Eric’s question snapped her back. She dropped her eyes.

There, on the floor beside the bed, a puddle of water had soaked a small, white pill. The pill was already soft and half-melted, but still easy enough to recognize.

It was the one she had failed to swallow earlier—the one she’d spit out during her coughing fit.

“A pill?” Eric’s gaze landed on it, too. He grabbed a tissue and scooped it up.

Panic shot through Hadley. “Eric, wait—”

But he already had it in hand.

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