Their attempt to help Elissa escape from Ernest had already crossed the line once, and the guilt still lingered for Eric.

“Understood.” Hadley puffed her cheeks, clearly sharing the unease.

Since Eric had an early appointment, he didn’t drive her himself. They left in separate vehicles, with Tamara assigned to accompany Hadley to Lion Bay.

Upon arrival, Lion Bay seemed more hectic than usual. As soon as Hadley stepped through the door, she spotted the living room crowded with stacks of storage boxes.

Confused by the sight, she asked, “What’s all this about?”

“Miss Pearson…” One of the housemaids stepped forward, ready to explain, but before she could speak, Ernest appeared at the top of the stairs.

“You’re here, Hadley? Feeling any better?” Eric had already informed him about her recent condition.

Flashing a polite smile, Hadley responded, “I appreciate your concern, Ernest. I’m doing much better now.”

“Even so, don’t forget to prioritize your health.” Wearing a plain shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up, Ernest continued, “It’s great that you’re checking in on Elissa, but you need to take care of yourself, too.”

With a nod toward the second floor, he said, “She’s upstairs in her room. You should go see her.”

“I will.” Hadley gave a small nod and made her way toward the staircase.

While moving up, she caught a snippet of Ernest’s voice from behind.

“Change the meal plan again. She couldn’t keep down the last one. Let’s try this instead.”

Hearing that, Hadley quickly turned away, not wanting to listen any longer. She stepped quietly into the master bedroom.

There, Elissa rested on the sofa, leaning weakly against a cushion. Her skin looked pale, and in just a few days, her frame had grown noticeably thinner.

“Elissa, you’ve lost so much weight,” Hadley said in alarm, moving to sit beside her.

Your next journey starts at g?lnσνso

“Hadley?” Elissa offered a faint smile, her voice gentle. Her eyes were slightly swollen. “Nothing stays down. Whatever I eat, I just throw it up.”

This time, it wasn’t emotional—it was entirely physical.

“What’s going on with you?” Hadley asked softly, her worry showing. “Didn’t the doctor give you anything to help?”

“He did.” Elissa nodded slowly. “It helped at first, but then it just stopped working.”

“Now what…” Hadley muttered, wrapping her fingers around Elissa’s hand. She looked fragile, more than ever. Her once-slender figure now seemed painfully delicate, with every joint more visible than it should be.

The hardest part was that Hadley didn’t know how to ease Elissa’s suffering.

Out of nowhere, a thought crossed Hadley’s mind. She squeezed Elissa’s hand gently, leaned closer, and whispered, “Elissa, guess what? Your mom reached out to me today!”

A subtle jolt passed through Elissa’s body, her eyes going wide. “She did? But… how did she get in touch?”

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