Hadley turned to Linda, and a familiar wave of dread washed over her. She burst out, “Linda, you—”
“Hadley!” Linda snapped, her tone sharp. “Because of you, Ernest is about to kill Eric!”
“Eric!” Panic shot through Hadley as she whipped her head around.
Ernest still had Eric by the collar, his face twisted with fury, all traces of his usual calm gone. Every blow landed with a sickening thud, the sound of fists striking bone echoing in the hallway.
Eric sprawled on the floor, not moving, not even groaning.
“Eric!” Hadley’s voice cracked as she pleaded, stomping her foot. “Please answer me! Are you alright?”
Linda watched on, her expression frosty, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. The sight of brothers tearing each other apart seemed to please her.
With her eyes brimming, Hadley begged Quentin, “Quentin, please let me go! Ernest is losing control. If Eric gets seriously hurt, he’ll never forgive himself!”
Quentin wavered, clearly torn.
Suddenly, a gentle voice cut through the chaos. “Ernest, what are you doing?”
Elissa had appeared. Even though Hadley hadn’t sent for her, the ruckus in the hallway was impossible to ignore, and Elissa could just make out Hadley’s desperate cries. She had ripped out her own oxygen tube, her face still white as a sheet, and bolted from the room.
She burst onto the scene, heart pounding at what she saw. A wave of shock and panic hit her, and she yelled at the top of her lungs, “Ernest! That’s enough! Can you hear me? Stop!”
Her voice finally broke through to Ernest, pulling his attention away.
“Elissa?” Ernest froze, looking up at her, still breathing hard. “Why are you out—”
Catching sight of the rage in his eyes, Elissa bit her lip and snapped back, “I’m the one who asked Hadley to help me escape! If you need someone to blame, it’s my fault! Take it out on me!”
However, Ernest’s mouth twisted into a cold smirk as he shook his head. “Stay back, Elissa. This is between Eric and me.”
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He lashed out with another blow, the anger behind it raw and savage. With no pause, Ernest’s fist crashed down once more. Each punch landed with unfiltered, brutal strength.
“Eric!” Hadley’s pleas filled the air, tears streaming down her face. “Please, Ernest! It’s on me, I asked Eric to help. Please, just stop…”
“Hadley…” Elissa felt ashamed and guilty. She couldn’t stop Ernest from hitting Eric.
She fixed her eyes on Quentin, who still stood in their path. With a shaky voice, she said, “Move.”
The command made Quentin flinch. He hesitated, unsure of his next move.
Elissa was not like Hadley. Ernest’s feelings for her ran far deeper. After a moment of indecision, Quentin dropped his arm and stepped aside. “Go ahead.”
Elissa and Hadley locked eyes, sharing a silent understanding, and then hurried forward together.
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