Letting out a weary sigh, she murmured, “I’m sick. I’m going to have to go back on my word. I can’t marry you.”

“What?”

Eric’s breath caught in his throat, a bitter ache blooming in his chest.

His lips quivered. “This can be treated.”

He shot up from his seat and began pacing anxiously.

His eyes were tinged with red as he continued, “It’s just a psychological issue… I’ll get you the best help available! If the doctors in Srixby aren’t good enough, we will go overseas!”

“Eric.”

Hadley let out a faint chuckle, cutting him off with calm finality. Looking at him steadily, she asked, “How did you know I was sick and that it was psychological?”

The question caught Eric off guard, leaving him momentarily stunned. In the past, he had occasionally sensed something wasn’t quite right. But every time he had that feeling, she would return to acting completely normal.

He hadn’t pushed, chalking it up to his own overthinking.

But now, after hearing what the doctor said, coupled with…

Eric hesitated briefly before reaching into his pocket and pulling out the pill bottles he had found hidden in the bathroom. “I found these inside the conditioner bottle in your bathroom.”

“Oh, I see.” Hadley offered a faint smile, though her eyes had reddened, tears clinging stubbornly to her lashes. “You figured it out sooner than I expected. I really believed I could keep it hidden just a little longer.”

“Longer?”

Eric’s voice cracked, heavy with guilt and regret. “I figured it out too late!”

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Despite being together every day, he hadn’t noticed anything until things had gotten so bad that she lashed out at him.

“However…” Hadley smiled again and continued sadly, “You still missed something important.”

Eric froze in place. What did she mean by that? Hadley let out a quiet, wistful laugh.

“My condition isn’t something that can be cured. In fact, if we stay together, it will only get worse.”

“Why is that?” Eric’s eyes were wide with disbelief, confusion swirling in them. “That’s not true! I told you that I’d find the best doctors…”

“You…” Hadley dropped her gaze, gesturing toward him with her chin. “Open the pill bottle. Take another look, and you will understand. Not the sleeping pills. The other one. Look carefully this time. Don’t just skim the surface.”

Eric clutched the bottle, his brow furrowed in bewilderment.

What could it mean? He twisted the cap off, the faint creak of the lid breaking the silence.

Hadley had urged him not to merely glance at it. Was she asking him to scrutinize each tablet with care? Updates are released by Find?Novel.net

He poured a small cascade of pills into his palm, letting them pool in his hand.

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