Hadley’s vacant stare seemed to look through him rather than at him, her mind trapped in a maze of painful thoughts. “Why did it have to be Chelsey? If desperation drove her, why didn’t she simply ask for my help?”
“That possibility died long ago.” Eric shook his head somberly. “The laboratory results reveal she’s been poisoning you for quite some time.” His voice hardened with judgment. “This reflects her true nature. Countless people struggle with poverty and desperation, yet most would never choose to murder for financial gain.”
Guilt laced his words as his tone grew heavy with self-blame. “I’m the one who failed you. If Gifford orchestrated this, then you were simply his weapon against me.”
Frustrated by his inability to strike Eric directly, Gifford had chosen to wound him through Hadley—the person he treasured most.
The cruelty was breathtaking—attacking Hadley was like driving a blade straight into Eric’s soul.
Hadley had become an innocent casualty in a war that should have remained his alone.
“Thankfully…” Eric’s voice carried traces of lingering fear. “Thankfully, we caught it in time. You’ll be fine. You’ll recover completely.”
Hadley nodded without focus, her thoughts drifting elsewhere. Her mind replayed the moment Chelsey had impulsively grabbed her coffee earlier that day. In that split second, Chelsey must have felt a flash of regret, hadn’t she?
Perhaps Chelsey wasn’t completely beyond redemption.
Eric might not grasp this complexity, but Hadley understood it perfectly.
When someone reached their breaking point, they often discovered themselves crossing lines they once thought unthinkable—all for survival. She herself had done the same once, for Joy.
The desperate logic remained identical.
“Hadley, what’s running through your mind?” Eric had learned to read her expressions with startling accuracy. He guessed correctly. “Chelsey created her own downfall. After what she put you through, she doesn’t deserve an ounce of sympathy.”
“Well…” Hadley settled against his shoulder, offering a slight nod. “I know you’re right. It’s just… the whole situation still makes me feel sick.”
?: g?ν
“I understand.” Eric wrapped his arms around her with gentle care, his voice dropping to a whisper. “But I have a feeling that what Chelsey did goes far beyond this single betrayal.”
“There’s more?” Hadley’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with alarm. “What else is there? Have you discovered something?”
“Nothing concrete yet,” Eric responded carefully. “But I strongly suspect those photos of me at Olisvale Bay were also handed over to Gifford by her. We’ll need to wait and see what the police investigation reveals. If they find anything, they’ll contact me immediately.”
The possibility felt increasingly probable. During Hadley’s time at Olisvale Bay, Chelsey had enjoyed unrestricted access to the house in her role as Hadley’s personal assistant. Snapping compromising photos would have required minimal effort.
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