“Hadley!” Tamara caught up to her at the elevator.

Hadley stood there, pressing the elevator button repeatedly, her movements mechanical, relentless.

“Hadley?” Tamara’s brow furrowed as she approached. “You’ve already pressed it.”

There was no point in continuing to press the elevator button.

“Oh… right.” Hadley blinked, snapping out of her trance. Her hand stilled, but her finger lingered on the button, as if reluctant to let go.

Then, abruptly, she closed her eyes.

Eric’s tear-streaked face flashed in her mind, vivid and haunting.

A soft, bittersweet laugh escaped her. “Hadley, did you see that?” she murmured under her breath.

Tamara’s eyes widened, startled. “Hadley, who are you talking to?” Had Hadley just called out her own name?

Hadley chuckled, shaking her head lightly. “It’s nothing.”

She couldn’t tell Tamara she was speaking to herself—to the wide-eyed, hopeful girl she had once been at fifteen, at twenty.

“Little Hadley,” she thought, “did you see? The man you adored for so long finally loves you back.”

Nevertheless, she was no longer the same woman. This new Hadley had matured. She carried her scars, thought with clarity, and refused to bend.

Hadley left the hotel and made her way back to the hospital.

Zane remained unconscious, an IV still attached to his arm, but his color had improved.

In the stillness of the night, a nurse slipped into the infusion center to replace Zane’s final IV bag.

“Thank you,” Hadley murmured, her voice a gentle whisper.

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Zane stirred, his eyelids fluttering as he slowly roused from sleep.

“You’re awake, Zane?” Hadley’s tone was soft, laced with relief.

“Mmm,” Zane mumbled, shifting to prop himself up on his elbow.

“Careful!” Hadley’s hand shot out, gently easing him back down. “You’re still hooked up to the IV. Don’t tug the needle out.”

“Right…” Zane complied, sinking back against the chair.

Freshly awake, his thoughts were still hazy, like mist slowly lifting. His gaze drifted to the window. “Feels like I’ve been out for ages.”

“Not quite,” Hadley replied, a warm smile curving her lips. “Just over an hour. It’s still dark out.”

“Hadley…” Zane licked his parched lips, a faint flush creeping across his cheeks. “I, uh… need to use the restroom.”

He felt utterly embarrassed, having to show his vulnerability over and over in just a few hours.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” he murmured.

“Why are you saying sorry?”

To Hadley, there was nothing to apologize for. She stood up swiftly. “Hold on. I’ll check with the nurse for a mobile IV stand.”

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