Neither Eric nor Ernest would allow Ayla to escape accountability so easily.

Hadley shut her eyes, silent, her heart heavy with grief. She trusted Eric would keep his word, but no punishment for Ayla could ease the ache—Elissa was gone forever.

Her mind drifted to Eric’s earlier questioning of Ayla. “You think someone else was involved?” she asked softly.

Eric nodded. “Do you believe Ayla could have planned such a precise attack on her own?”

Not to mention, the car she hit had been rented by Savannah, not Elissa. Ayla was just a minor celebrity, struggling to make ends meet after being kicked out of East Entertainment Media. She lacked the resources to execute such a calculated act, even if driven by malice.

Convinced, Hadley whispered, “Then who could it be?” The possibility of a hidden orchestrator gnawed at her.

“Gifford,” Eric said, his voice weighted with certainty.

Gifford?

Hadley stiffened, disbelief flickering in her eyes. “Are you certain?”

“It’s very likely,” Eric replied. “I haven’t told you this before, but Ernest and I engineered Gifford’s downfall. So, don’t carry this guilt.”

“Are you telling the truth?” Hadley’s tone wavered, wondering if he was only trying to spare her pain.

“It’s the truth,” Eric said with a sigh. “But we need to track down Gifford to confirm my suspicions.”

He gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Promise me you won’t spiral into worry until we uncover the full truth. This is more tangled than it seems.”

After a pause, Hadley gave a faint, numb nod.

“Let’s head home for now,” Eric said, his voice softening. “Joy’s probably up and awake by now. She didn’t see us last night—let’s share breakfast with her.”

“Okay,” Hadley replied, the mention of their daughter stirring a slight response as she nodded.

gα?ησν?s．?оm takes you away

But mid-thought, she froze, spinning around abruptly.

“What’s wrong?” Eric asked, confused.

“Someone’s there!” Hadley’s fingers dug into his arm as she pointed down the deserted hospital corridor. “Someone’s following me!”

The hallway was empty.

Eric’s gaze sharpened, recognizing the signs of Hadley’s recurring condition resurfacing. Her illness had never fully subsided, and Elissa’s loss was a fresh wound, intensifying her distress.

His jaw tightened, but he kept his voice calm to avoid alarming her further. “Could it be a mistake? You’ve been exhausted and under so much strain lately.”

“You don’t believe me?” Hadley’s grip on his hand tightened, her voice desperate. “You think I’m losing it again, don’t you? I’m telling you, someone was there! Please, trust me!”

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