And it all made perfect sense.

After all, if she were simple-minded, she couldn’t possibly have deceived him and Ernest for over a decade while living under the Flynn family’s roof. Their misplaced trust and guilt had given her free rein to act without restraint, to cross every conceivable line.

Now, as Eric stood there, momentarily stripped of words, Linda’s lips curved into a satisfied smirk. She sensed the perfect moment had arrived.

“Let’s address the real issue,” Linda said without haste. “Listen, if you want me to let this go, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility…”

Finally, they stopped skirting around the issue and got straight to the point. Before he even stepped inside, Eric had already braced himself for what this meeting would cost. He didn’t come here for small talk. This was about Hadley, and he knew Linda wouldn’t agree to anything unless she got something in return.

Linda turned her head slightly, catching the stiff set of his jaw. Her tone carried no warmth. “You don’t have to be so tense. I’m only asking for something you’ll be able to handle.”

Eric drew in a slow breath, his throat tightening as he pushed the words out. “Tell me what it is.”

If she kept her demands within reason, then he was ready to comply. A faint smirk played at the edge of Linda’s lips, though her eyes remained distant. She answered without rushing, “Send me to Ontmond.”

Eric froze for a beat, a flicker of disbelief flashing through his eyes. Yes, this was within his reach—he just had to decide. Back then, he wouldn’t have hesitated. It would’ve been a small favor, easily done and forgotten. Now, things were different.

With his eyes lowered halfway, Eric drifted into a heavy, wordless pause. What had mattered most to Hadley all this time? No question—it had always come back to Elissa. Losing Elissa had left Hadley fixated on finding out who was really responsible. Just before it all spiraled, she had phoned him, hoping he’d recorded their conversation that might help take Linda down.

With Abigail’s testimony and that recording in hand, they might finally be able to expose Linda for what she’d done. But things had taken a sharp turn. Now, Hadley was the one who needed saving. Linda had turned Hadley’s safety into the center of her negotiation.

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Eric never claimed to be noble. Deep down, he accepted the selfish streak that came with being human. If he had to be honest, Elissa’s case didn’t carry the same weight for him as it did for Hadley.

To Hadley, though, it was everything.

Right now, she was sitting in a police station, her hands tied by circumstance. Still, he knew her well enough to be certain—she hadn’t let it rest. She never would.

Agreeing to Linda’s terms wasn’t the hard part. What gnawed at him was how he’d ever justify it to Hadley.

And Elissa wasn’t the only victim. Chelsey’s attack had Linda’s fingerprints all over it, too.

“Having trouble making up your mind?” Linda’s voice cut clean through the quiet. She fixed her eyes on Eric, cool and unconcerned.

With a smirk tugging at her lips, she said, “Why the pause? Isn’t Hadley the one who matters most to you? Shouldn’t her protection be your main concern?”

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