Drinking?

Hadley’s fingers curled tighter around the phone. Eric wasn’t even supposed to drink! Was he trying to get himself killed?

“Hadley, please!”

With a sigh and a bite to her lower lip, Hadley finally said, “Text me the room number.”

“Got it!”

As soon as the call ended, a message from Phillips appeared on Hadley’s screen. When she turned, she noticed Tamara a few feet behind her.

“Tamara.”

“Right here!”

Without delay, Tamara drove Hadley straight to the hotel.

Once they arrived, Tamara approached the door and gave it a knock.

“One second!” Phillips said, and soon the door opened.

His face lit up the moment he saw Hadley. “Finally… Come on in!”

He moved aside to make space for her.

Taking a step back, Phillips exchanged a quick glance with Tamara. Catching the silent cue, they both paused at the entrance while he gently closed the door behind Hadley.

Stepping into the room, Hadley took a cautious glance around.

Although the lights were on, Eric was nowhere in sight. From the bathroom, the sound of running water echoed out.

A crease formed on Hadley’s forehead. Was he still throwing up in there? She didn’t even have time to approach the bathroom before the stench hit her, and she quickly brought a hand to her nose.

The air reeked of booze layered with the bitter bite of cigarette smoke.

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How much alcohol had he downed? And he had been smoking on top of that?

Scattered across the coffee table and the floor were empty bottles, while the ashtray brimmed with used-up cigarettes.

It was like Eric didn’t care whether he lived or died anymore.

Frustration bubbled to the surface.

Without thinking, Hadley turned on her heel and stormed straight into the bathroom.

“Ugh…”

Curled over the toilet, Eric was still in the grip of another wave of nausea.

“Eric!” Hadley charged into the cramped space, seized his collar, and yelled, “What happened to listening to your doctor? No smoking, no drinking—yet here you are doing both! Are you that eager to ruin yourself?”

Not a word came from Eric.

Even though her grip wasn’t that strong, Eric swayed like a puppet with cut strings and collapsed backward with a thud.

“Eric!”

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