Eric chose to bear the blame himself.

“Joy.” Having his own daughter turn away felt like someone had stabbed him in the chest, but Eric found himself speechless.

“I don’t want to talk to you!” Joy cried out, turning away and pressing herself into her mother’s embrace, her back firmly to him.

“Then…” With his voice barely steady, Eric tried again. “I’ll go now.”

Joy remained with her back to him.

Eric’s heart ached as he straightened up, forcing a smile in Hadley’s direction. Speaking gently, he said, “I’m going. Please take care of Joy.”

“I will.” A quiet nod came from Hadley.

“And you… try to take care of yourself, too. Be happy.”

Caught off guard by his words, Hadley hesitated but eventually managed to nod. “I’ll try.”

“Joy…” A final look at his daughter, so small in her mother’s arms, filled Eric with immense love and heartache. “I’m leaving now.” Without warning, he spun around and made his way swiftly to the door.

He kept his eyes forward and refused to slow down.

He worried that pausing for even a moment would make him turn back. Joy’s heartbreaking sobs carried through the house as he walked away. Hadley gently soothed her daughter. “Joy, it’s alright. Mommy’s right here.”

“Mommy, Mommy…”

Standing in the doorway, Eric paused, holding his breath and whispering under his breath, “Joy, Daddy will always love you and your mommy.”

As Eric stepped through the gate, a voice abruptly shouted his name. “Eric!”

Raising his eyes, Eric spotted Brady charging toward him with a menacing aura, leaping out of a car.

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“You bastard!” Brady hissed.

Before Eric could respond, Brady’s fist was already flying, landing a heavy blow to Eric’s face.

With a resounding thump, the punch connected squarely, sending Eric stumbling backward, barely managing to stay on his feet.

“Mr. Scott!”

Bodyguards swiftly encircled Brady, holding him back.

“Eric!” Though restrained, Brady’s eyes burned with loathing, his posture defiant as he glared at Eric. “What kind of man are you? How could you treat my sister like that? Weren’t you the one chasing her relentlessly, even when she wasn’t interested? And now you just ditch her? Huh?”

Struggling against the guards, he yelled, “Let me go! Eric, face me like a man! Hiding behind your bodyguards—what a coward!”

Eric let out a quiet laugh. He felt the sting of the punch, his tongue grazing the tender spot inside his cheek, and signaled the bodyguards with a casual wave. Check latest chapters at FιndＮovel.net

“Let him go,” he said coolly.

“Mr. Scott?” The bodyguards exchanged hesitant looks, wary after Brady’s attack.

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