Hadley’s brow creased with concern. “Does that mean… Gifford had already corrupted her loyalty long before this incident?”

After all, considerable time had passed since Hadley had relocated from Olisvale Bay.

“We’ll have to wait for official police confirmation before we know for certain.” Eric’s expression shifted as a new thought struck him. “By the way… how exactly did Chelsey end up as your assistant?”

“I didn’t hire her directly,” Hadley replied with complete honesty. “Mr. Webster found her for me not long after I joined his studio. She was a recent graduate, fresh out of college.”

“Tch.” Eric’s brows drew together in a sharp frown. “Completely unreliable judgment.”

He seized the moment to propose, “From now on, I should personally handle all staffing decisions for your team. Would that be acceptable to you?”

“Absolutely.” After the devastating betrayal she had endured, Hadley agreed without hesitation. Tamara, unlike Chelsey, had proven herself to be genuinely trustworthy.

With the truth finally exposed, Hadley no longer had any reason to remain on set.

Eric broached the delicate subject with her. “You need complete rest now and must follow the doctors’ treatment protocol religiously. Let’s suspend your work for the time being.”

Hadley’s face tightened with visible anxiety. “But—”

“Hadley, please listen to me.” Eric rushed to comfort her rising panic. “Your health must come first, above everything else. You need to focus entirely on getting better. As for your work, I’ll talk to the filming crew and manage every detail. I’ll also personally cover any financial losses caused by your absence. You have to trust me on this decision. For Joy’s future, and for my peace of mind… please?”

Hadley fell into a long, contemplative silence. She had never been the type to cling stubbornly to unreasonable positions, and she recognized the gravity of their circumstances.

Finally, she gave a slow nod of acceptance. “Alright. I’ll put myself completely in your hands.”

? ? g?ν?

“That’s my brave girl.” Eric drew her close against his chest, his fingers gently threading through her long hair. “Don’t let fear consume you. Once you stop taking that poison and commit to the treatment plan, you’ll recover completely in no time.”

After leaving the set, Eric drove Hadley straight to the hospital.

Now that they knew what had triggered her relapse, getting her treated seemed like the only sensible move.

But after the consultation, the doctor’s words were anything but reassuring.

“The specific medication has been banned for years. There’s no research, and therefore no treatment currently available—”

The moment those words landed, Eric’s temper exploded like a lightning strike.

“Don’t tell me you’ve figured out the cause but can’t do anything about it!” he snapped.

The fury in his voice filled the room. The doctor knew that if he hinted at the wrong thing, he might find his medical license revoked by the next morning.

“No, no. That’s not what I meant…” the doctor rushed to explain, feeling a chill run down his spine. “Mr. Scott, rest assured, based on Miss Pearson’s test results, the drug levels aren’t dangerously high. She’s been taking it for some time, yes, but the situation isn’t beyond saving. If she stops right now, the concentration in her body will slowly taper off. As for the nerve damage that’s already there, we’ll start her on some supportive medications to help with recovery.”

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