Even as Hadley spoke, her chest tightened with fear. She realized what Elissa was facing now was all too familiar. Eric had done the same to her once…

Men like Ernest and Eric—men with reach, money, and influence—could twist everything in their favor. And women like Hadley and Elissa? They had nowhere to run.

“Didn’t he say he’d be back in a few days to get you? That buys us time. We’re not out of options—not yet.”

Maybe Elissa needed to disappear. Maybe Srixby wasn’t a place she could stay anymore.

“Hadley!” Elissa’s face went rigid in an instant, her shoulders locked with tension. “You’re right—there’s still a window. I can still end this pregnancy before he comes back!”

That caught Hadley off guard. “You… you’re not keeping the baby?”

She didn’t mean to sound judgmental. It was just hard to ignore that years ago, when the whole world turned against her, Elissa had still chosen to keep Locke.

“This isn’t the same.” Elissa’s voice broke. “Back then, my mom was with me, and the doctor warned me that an abortion might hurt my body beyond recovery. My mom still hoped things would work out between me and Robin. She believed I had a future. But now…”

Her lips curled into a sorrowful smile, steeped in pain and regret. “Just look at me. What kind of mess am I in right now? There’s nothing ahead for me, Hadley. Nothing. Ernest will never let go—he’ll use this child to trap me by his side forever!”

Elissa’s tears fell hard and fast, as if each one carried a wound too deep to speak. “I won’t be his mistress and let him turn me into some shameful secret! And I won’t bring a child into this world to be marked as unwanted from the start!”

“Elissa.” Hadley’s chest ached as she looked at her, fully grasping the weight of her pain. She nodded firmly, over and over. “I understand. I truly do.”

Your adventure awaits at gα?ησν?s?c〇m

“Can I count on you?” Elissa’s voice trembled, eyes red and swollen as she pleaded. “My mom’s not here. Grandpa’s too old and frail to help me. I have no one else.”

“You don’t even have to ask!” Hadley didn’t hesitate. “Whatever you need, I’ll stand by you. I promise.”

Even if that meant going through with the abortion.

Hadley already knew the kind of storm Ernest would unleash once he found out. But none of that mattered now. This was Elissa’s call—and it was hers alone.

Two days. That was all the time left to make it happen.

Thanks to Colleen, Hadley didn’t have to handle anything on her own. That evening, she made a simple request—Colleen took care of the paperwork. By morning, Hadley was accompanying Elissa to the hospital.

Since Colleen was on duty, she arranged for a nurse to bring over the documents and Elissa’s medical file.

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