“Ernest!” Eric’s lips pressed tightly together, his eyes red and brimming with fury. “Hadley has been suffering for years because of me! And now, we don’t even know if she’ll ever be okay again.”

Ernest didn’t say a word. He sat quietly, processing everything Eric had just revealed.

Once the weight of it settled, he let out a long, silent sigh, a wave of regret washing over him. So, that was the truth. Hadley had endured so much pain…

Faced with the depth of Hadley’s pain and Eric’s guilt, Ernest found himself at a loss for words. What could he possibly say right now? The hurt ran too deep, and any comfort offered would only sound empty.

“We’ve all been completely fooled by Linda!” Eric’s voice trembled with anguish, his brow furrowed tightly. “Yes, Hadley and Linda never got along, and Hadley was always open about it. But Linda? She never spoke a word. Behind the scenes, she pulled every dirty trick she could.”

Ernest remained silent, nodding slightly.

“I’m sorry for dragging you into all of this. Do you need my help with Hadley?”

“No. That won’t be necessary.” Eric slumped back in his seat, shaking his head in despair. “A year ago, when Hadley came back to Srixby, she never meant to have anything to do with me… It was always just me, pushing, hoping, chasing something that was never there. I…”

He shut his eyes, weighed down by the truth. “I can’t keep forcing her. Not anymore.”

“Alright.” Ernest gave a slow nod. “I get it.” Read full story at find[?]ovel.net

He turned slightly, reaching for the car door.

“Ernest!” Eric suddenly stopped him, urgency in his voice. “What are you planning to do? Yes, Linda did save us, but it wasn’t out of goodwill!”

He continued, “All these years, she’s been manipulating us. Can’t you see that now?”

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The air between them grew heavy as they stared at each other. Some truths were clear. They both knew them. But even knowing, neither could deny the fact that Linda had saved their lives.

Because of that, she had the right to act with her own intentions. They couldn’t just walk away—not when they owed her so much.

Ernest let out a sigh. “Of course I understand.”

He shook his head slowly. “But our circumstances aren’t entirely the same… She’s the way she is now because of me. I owe her, and I have to pay that debt.”

“Ernest!” Eric tried to persuade him. “Let the mental health specialists handle her. If one isn’t enough, get an entire team involved! I’ve already lost Hadley. If this keeps going, you and Elissa might…”

Ernest fell silent, taking in his words. He then nodded slightly and said, “I hear you. I’ll think about it.”

Then something crossed his mind. “Why are you here today if you’re not here to see Linda? Are you here for a follow-up?”

“Yeah.” Eric looked a little caught off guard but nodded.

“Did your check-up go okay?”

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