Hadley didn’t answer. Deep down, she knew exactly what he meant.

Ernest had saved Eric’s life. Without him, Eric was no one.

It was Ernest who had pulled him into the Flynn family. Who had shaped him. Who had given him everything he had now.

Ernest hadn’t just saved him. He had given him a new life. So asking Eric to turn against him—even a little—was no small thing.

“Eric…” Hadley hesitated. She didn’t know how to say it. She knew it wasn’t fair. But in Srixby, he was probably the only one who could stand up to Ernest for Elissa’s sake.

Her fingers clutched the edge of his sleeve. She didn’t speak, but he understood.

“Don’t worry.” Eric smiled gently. “If I’m still breathing when Ernest finds out, I’ll apologize. And if I’m not… then the whole thing ends with me. He won’t blame you. He’ll keep protecting—”

Before he could finish, Hadley pressed her hand to his mouth.

Her lips trembled. She shook her head. “Stop. Please don’t say it.”

Eric blinked, then raised his hand and gently pulled her into a deep embrace. “Alright. I won’t say another word.”

“You really are…” Hadley’s eyes stung. Her voice cracked.

She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat.

“Alright.” Eric let out a soft laugh. “It’s all my fault. Don’t cry, okay? I meant what I said. You won’t have to do a thing. I’ll handle it. Just give me time. Okay?”

“Okay.” Hadley nodded, wiping away her tears.

“Hadley…” he said suddenly. “Do you think… that you don’t hate me anymore?”

The question hit her like a wave.

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Without thinking, she stood on tiptoe and threw her arms around him, holding him tight.

“Live. Just live through this,” she whispered. “If you survive… I won’t have a reason to hate you.” Did she mean it?

Eric lifted an eyebrow. That counted as liking him, didn’t it?

Hearing those heartfelt words from her now meant something very different.

“Alright,” he nodded with a smile. “I’ll keep working on that.” But where she couldn’t see him, the smile faded.

“I’m sorry, Hadley,” he thought. “I can’t even promise I’ll make it out alive.”

After leaving the hospital, Ernest returned to the Flynn Mansion.

“Welcome home, Mr. Flynn,” Kira greeted as she stepped forward to take his coat. Her eyes instinctively drifted toward the staircase. “Miss Harris has refused every meal today. I’ve approached her multiple times, but…”

Her words faltered, uncertainty creeping into her voice. “I believe she’s been waiting specifically for your return.”

“Understood,” Ernest acknowledged with a weary nod, each step up the staircase seeming to require tremendous effort.

“Get out! I already told you I have no appetite!”

The moment Ernest opened the door, a ceramic cup hurtled through the air toward his head. His reflexes kicked in just in time, allowing him to duck sideways and narrowly avoid the projectile.

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