He stood rooted to the spot, paralyzed, his chest constricting as if it might tear itself apart.

“No,” he whispered, voice trembling. “I don’t believe it.”

“You pressed me for the truth,” Hadley replied, a soft, bitter chuckle escaping her lips. “I gave it to you, but you refuse to accept it. Isn’t that a bit absurd?”

With a heavy thud, Eric collapsed to his knees before her, desperation etched in every line of his face.

“Please, Hadley, stop!” Eric pleaded, his voice breaking, stifled sobs reverberating in the quiet air like a wounded animal’s cry. “Why must you be so cruel to me?”

Hadley’s gaze softened as she looked down at Eric, crumpled before her.

“Cruel?” she murmured, almost to herself. Then, a faint smile curved her lips. “When I poured my heart out to you all those years ago, didn’t you turn me away? If we’re measuring cruelty, I would say we’re square.”

Eric’s shoulders quaked, and he buried his face in his hands, his voice muffled. “You’re right. This is my reckoning. I’ve earned every bit of this pain.”

Hadley’s eyes lingered on the crown of his bowed head. She raised her hand briefly, as if to comfort him, but let it fall after a fleeting moment.

Drawing a steadying breath, she spoke with quiet resolve. “I’m thankful for all you’ve done for me and Joy this past year, but the bitterness in my heart overshadows my gratitude. I can’t pretend otherwise. I harbor more resentment than appreciation. Now, please stand up.”

Hadley leaned forward, gently grasping Eric’s arm to help him rise.

“Let’s part ways amicably,” she continued, her tone firm yet kind. “I won’t dwell on this again, and neither should you. I hope this will be the last of such raw outbursts.”

With her support, Eric rose unsteadily, his movements awkward, almost pitiable.

Hadley tilted her chin slightly, a faint, forced smile gracing her lips. “Whatever happened between us is water under the bridge. Let’s not torture each other any longer. Let this be the end.”

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She paused, and then added softly, “And please, for your sake, cut back on the smoking and drinking. It’s no good for you. I want Joy’s father to live a long, healthy life.”

Eric gazed at Hadley in silence, his broken heart throbbing with a dull, numbing ache. She still cared for him, in her way… but only as the father of their daughter, Joy.

Hadley released Eric’s arm, stepping back as he steadied himself. “I’ll be going now. Let’s each walk our own path from here.”

“Walk our own paths?” Eric’s voice rasped, barely audible, as if the words were torn from him. “Is that even possible?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Hadley’s smile widened, a touch of lightness in her tone.

“I know I can move forward. It’s just who I am. Have you forgotten about Denver?”

She sighed, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “I truly wanted to build something with him back then. It just… didn’t come to pass.”

Eric hadn’t forgotten. The unraveling of Hadley’s relationship with Denver was partly due to the Moran family’s meddling, and partly due to Eric’s own hand.

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