It was a text, also from Phillips: Hadley, can you take a call?

The message made Hadley freeze. Was this some kind of emergency?

With the phone still in her grasp, she looked over at Zane, who remained asleep while Chelsey stayed by his side.

Chelsey caught the look on Hadley’s face and immediately sensed she needed to step away. “Hadley, I’ll stay here with Mr. Hayes.”

She had her own reasons. Zane had once pulled her out of trouble by finding Hadley that dress. If it hadn’t been for him, she would have lost her job as Hadley’s assistant.

“Okay.” Hadley gave a small nod after a pause, then left the infusion center, phone already pressed to her ear as she called Phillips.

“Hadley, is that you?” Phillips picked up at once, almost as if he had been waiting the entire time.

Before Hadley could say anything, his voice came through again. “Could you check on Mr. Scott?”

“What?” Hadley’s eyebrows drew together. Why would he need her? “Did something happen to him?”

“You’ll understand better if you see him yourself! Just come!”

“However…” Hadley’s voice tightened. “I’m not even—”

“I already know you’re in Ciderbrook!” Phillips cut her off. “So is Mr. Scott! He’s at the same hotel as you!”

What did he just say?

Hadley blinked, thrown off by the sudden revelation. Was this trip related to work? Or maybe something else entirely?

“Mr. Scott is here because of you!” Phillips interrupted her thoughts with urgency. “Hadley, please. Just come see him!”

No reply came from Hadley for a while.

L?tτ cнαρτ?rs ιn glov?l?.

Clutching her phone tightly, she gave a slight shake of her head. “I can’t do that. You know what he and I have agreed on.”

That decision had already been made the day their relationship ended. Because he was Joy’s biological father, there was no way to cut him off completely. Still, the boundary was clear—they would never cross into personal territory again.

Her finger hovered over the screen, ready to end the call.

“Mr. Scott!” A sharp cry burst from Phillips, his voice suddenly edged with panic. “Mr. Scott, are you alright?”

“Ugh…”

The sound that followed made Hadley stiffen. She recognized it instantly—someone was throwing up. It was Eric.

What on earth was going on? Was he unwell? Why was he throwing up like that?

“Hadley!” Phillips came back on the line, more urgent now. “Mr. Scott is not doing—”

“Well! Can you please come here? Just talk to him for a moment. If I could get through to him myself, I wouldn’t be asking you!”

There was a pause before he added, “Mr. Scott is miserable, Hadley. He’s been drinking nonstop!”

.

.

.