Convinced he was grasping at straws, Hadley listened as Eric’s voice crackled with urgency.

“It’s… I just took my medicine, and we’re out of candied fruit,” he said. “You always picked it up, and the servant is at a loss where to buy more. I can’t stand regular candy, so I thought I could ask you…” His words petered out, tinged with remorse. “Sorry for bothering you.”

Hadley stayed silent, letting Eric’s words hang in the air. She hadn’t anticipated such a trivial matter.

A flicker of suspicion crossed her mind, and she couldn’t help but blurt, “You’re eating candy?”

Wasn’t he supposed to be on his way to see Linda or already there?

“Yeah,” Eric admitted, a sheepish note in his voice. “Just finished my usual herbal remedy.”

Hadley fell quiet again, her thoughts swirling. She took a deep breath, her delicate fingers threading through her hair.

“Hadley?” Eric’s voice carried a hint of concern. “Did you think I was going to see Linda?”

It wasn’t just her assumption—it seemed the logical conclusion. Hadn’t Ernest said Linda’s leg pain was severe?

“I didn’t go,” Eric clarified. “Ernest is handling it.” They had settled it before parting ways. If Linda’s situation demanded his presence, Ernest would let him know. Ernest also knew better than to expect Eric to tend to Linda in person.

On the other end, Hadley clutched her phone, her mind adrift. Eric hadn’t gone? That was unexpected. She had been so sure he had.

“Hadley?” Eric’s gentle voice broke through, tinged with worry. “You still there? Are you hearing me?”

“Yes,” Hadley replied, snapping back to the moment. “I’m listening.”

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Recalling his question, she added briskly, “The store is at…”

Worried he would forget, she continued, “I’ll text you the store’s name and address.”

“Got it,” Eric said, gratitude warming his tone. “Thanks.”

“If that’s all, I’ve got to go,” Hadley said curtly.

“Alright…” Eric’s voice lingered, but the call ended without farewells.

He stared at his phone, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips. He wasn’t really lying about running out of candied fruit, but it was also just an excuse to reach out, and Hadley had seen right through him.

Once again, he had ruffled her feathers.

Meanwhile, Hadley set her phone down, lost in thought.

Eric had done it on purpose, hadn’t he?

The question was a flimsy pretext; his real aim was to let her know he hadn’t gone to Linda.

Hadley let out a soft huff, a wry smile playing on her lips as she shook her head. Rising, she grabbed clothes from the closet, took a quick shower, and slipped into bed.

Fresh from the bathroom, Eric noticed his phone buzzing on the table. Ernest’s name lit up the screen.

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