Eric paused, a flicker of sorrow crossing his gaze. “Yes, I ensured Brady won the bid… and I did it for you.”

“Eric…” Hadley’s brow furrowed, her voice tinged with unease.

“Please, let me explain,” Eric interjected softly, his tone gentle but firm. “Rest assured, I respect your boundaries. I won’t misinterpret your willingness to see me as a second chance.”

He knew better than to assume their meetings signaled a full reconciliation. His past mistakes had cut too deeply, leaving wounds that time alone couldn’t heal.

Redemption, if it were possible, would take more than fleeting gestures; it might take a lifetime.

And given his current state, that lifetime felt uncertain.

A quiet fear stirred within him.

“Hadley.” Bitterness weighed heavily on Eric’s heart, yet he managed a faint smile. “I’m not being fatalistic, but if… if one day I’m no longer around…”

Hadley’s breath caught, her eyes widening as words failed her.

Eric pressed on, his tone resolute yet tender. “Ernest will always have your back, I’m sure of it. But he is already stretched thin with his own duties. Brady, though, is your family, someone you can truly lean on. He has a good heart and pays attention to the details.”

Hadley listened in silence, her eyes glistening as she fought back emotion, her lips pressed tightly together.

“If Brady’s doing well, he’ll be in a much better position to take care of you and Joy,” Eric added with a faint, teasing smile. “Tell him to do a stellar job and make you proud.”

When the call ended, Hadley’s arm fell limply to her side, her mouth slightly agape, words still eluding her.

After a long moment, she lifted her hand to cover her eyes, her fingers growing damp with quiet tears.

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“Why say such things out of the blue?” she murmured, her voice trembling. Eric’s words carried the weight of someone bracing for the worst.

Days later, Hadley stepped out of her home early in the morning, only to find Eric waiting, as he often did.

She paused, her brow knitting in mild reproach. “You don’t have to show up every day, you know.”

Eric’s face fell, a touch of dejection in his eyes. “Am I troubling you?”

“No,” Hadley replied, shaking her head. “I just worry it’s wearing you out.”

“Well,” Phillips, standing nearby, chimed in with a warm chuckle. “Let Mr. Scott do what makes him happy. He has been needing less of his medication lately, you know.”

He was referring to the small bottle of essential pills Eric always carried, a detail Hadley hadn’t overlooked.

Though unspoken, her willingness to meet Eric was partly for his well-being.

If this routine brought him comfort, she wouldn’t stand in the way.

Still, she frowned slightly and said, “There is no training today; it’s my day off. You should head to the office.”

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