Hadley stumbled back, her heart racing as she shook her head in distress. Without a word, she trailed after them, her steps heavy with worry.

At the hospital, chaos reigned.

This wasn’t Eric’s first collapse, but it was by far the most alarming.

“What happened? Why did he faint? Hurry, get him inside!” the doctor barked, his sharp words sending a shiver through everyone present.

“He’ll need to stay for observation. Go handle the paperwork,” the doctor added briskly.

“I’m on it!” Phillips replied, rushing off to comply.

As he exited, he nearly collided with Hadley, who had just arrived. He paused, offering a brief nod. “You’re here… I’ll go take care of some paperwork.” Hadley nodded absently, her mind elsewhere.

“Hadley!” Phillips turned back after a few steps, his voice earnest. “You’ll stay until he is out, won’t you?”

“Yes,” Hadley murmured, nodding again.

“Good!” A flicker of relief crossed Phillips’ face before he hurried away. Hadley understood the weight of his words. A knot of unease tightened in her chest as she moved toward the emergency room.

“Hadley!” Megan’s voice sliced through the air as she stormed forward, eyes blazing like wildfire. She shoved Hadley with force. “Why are you here? How dare you show your face? Get out! Leave!”

Hadley staggered, her brow furrowing. Steadying herself, she spoke calmly, “I haven’t forgotten my promise to you. I’m not here to steal Eric from you… Once he is stable, I’ll go. He won’t even know I was here.”

“Once he is stable?” Megan’s eyes brimmed with angry tears as she scoffed. “Why don’t you just admit you’re here to see if he is dead? Get out! I’m telling you to leave!”

Megan’s voice grew sharper, her words cutting deep. “You’re the reason he is lying there! Without you, he would have been fine! He doesn’t need you, he has me!”

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Her agitation escalated, her voice cracking. “I said get lost! Go!”

Hadley met Megan’s tear-streaked glare in silence, and then nodded slowly.

“I’ll go.”

She turned to leave, her steps faltering, heavy with doubt.

In that moment, she replayed Eric’s desperate plea. He had sworn he hadn’t touched Zane.

The certainty in his voice gnawed at her.

Guilt settled like a stone in her stomach. Perhaps Megan was right—maybe she was the cause of Eric’s collapse.

“Eric…” Hadley whispered, her eyes glistening. “I’m so sorry…”

Though she couldn’t say it to his face, her heart ached as she prayed silently that Eric would pull through.

When Phillips returned from handling the paperwork, he found only Megan lingering by the emergency room doors. Hadley was nowhere in sight.

“Where is Hadley?” he asked, scanning the area. “Miss Aston, did you chase her away?”

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