“No need,” Hadley shook her head firmly. “I have to go home and see Joy every night.”
The production team had already arranged accommodations, but Hadley couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from Joy overnight. Despite her demanding schedule, she made sure to return home every single night, even if it meant catching only a fleeting glimpse of Joy.
Hadley’s face softened into a tired but genuine smile. “If I’m lucky, Joy wakes up during the night, and I get to spend time with her. Sometimes, in the morning, I’m blessed to hear Joy say goodbye to me before I leave.”
Eric’s expression softened into a warm smile, his eyes filled with tender affection. “That’s wonderful.”
Hadley truly was an exceptional mother. She barely managed to get enough sleep while rushing between countless places, yet when Joy woke up at night, she never found it annoying or disruptive—instead, she considered herself fortunate for those precious moments.
Eric continued gently, “I’ll still book the suite, just in case you need it. If you find yourself with spare time, you can rest there for a while.”
“There’s no need for that… The crew already…” Hadley began to protest.
“I know your crew has made arrangements,” Eric interjected, shaking his head with determination. “But what kind of quality accommodations can they realistically provide? The suite will be quieter and offer you much better rest.”
As he spoke, he gently took her hand in his. “Please, just trust me on this, okay?”
Hadley pressed her lips together thoughtfully, her resistance finally crumbling. “Okay, have it your way.”
She glanced down at her hand, now cradled in his warm grasp. She hesitated for a brief moment but chose not to pull away.
“What about Ernest?” she asked quietly. “Did you see him today?”
Your next story begins at . com
“No,” Eric shook his head, hesitating briefly before speaking with complete honesty. “Ernest isn’t in Srixby anymore.”
He released a heavy sigh. “He left Quentin behind and went to find Elissa and Locke… He’s determined to find them, no matter what obstacles stand in his way. Ernest did treat Elissa unfairly—that’s an undeniable fact.”
Eric gave Hadley’s hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “But his feelings for Elissa are completely genuine.”
Hadley found herself completely speechless. She felt overwhelmed by the bewildering complexity of human emotions and relationships.
What could Ernest possibly be thinking right now?
They finally arrived at Jewel Avenue. Another car sat parked directly at the gate.
“Huh?” Hadley blinked in confusion. “Whose car could that be?”
It was completely unfamiliar to her, and the license plate meant nothing to her tired mind.
Eric smiled knowingly, still holding her hand as he helped her step out of the car.
The door of the mysterious car swung open, and Cristian emerged, clutching a leather briefcase.
Cristian shot a distinctly resentful glance at Eric, but the moment he turned to face Hadley, his expression transformed into a warm, welcoming smile. “Hadley, good evening. It’s been far too long.”
.
.
.