Even then, Hadley kept her eyes averted and stayed quiet.

“Let’s go.” Eric held onto her fidgeting hand, leading her gently toward the exit.

Little by little, she stopped trying to pull away from his grasp.

A faint smile flickered across Eric’s face, relief softening his features. Outside, he paused and looked down at her. “Hadley? Will you look at me for a second?”

Hadley hesitated, but then slowly lifted her gaze to meet his.

“Let me take a look at you.” Eric reached out and stroked her cheek with gentle fingers.

He paused at the sight of the dark shadows beneath her eyes, and a pang of guilt twisted inside him.

“You didn’t get any sleep last night, did you?” Eric’s voice was filled with worry. “Let’s head home. A warm bath and some rest will do you good.”

“Hadley!” Off to the side, Colleen and Brady watched, waiting patiently for them. Colleen approached with a warm smile and a takeout box in her hands. Hadley’s expression changed to puzzled surprise as she saw what Colleen carried, her lashes fluttering in confusion.

Colleen explained, “It’s panna cotta,” nodding at Brady for help. “Can you help me with this?”

“Sure thing.” Brady opened the lid and, after a short pause, handed the spoon over to Eric. “Mr. Scott, maybe you should give it to her.”

“Alright.” Eric accepted the spoon, keeping one arm protectively around Hadley. He scooped up some panna cotta and gently brought it to her lips.

Colleen kept talking, her tone soft. “I know you might not feel up to eating right now, but you probably didn’t eat anything at all while you were here, and I thought a little sweet treat might lift your spirits.”

She hoped a few bites would give Hadley a bit of comfort and help her regain some energy.

“This one’s vanilla—I remember you always liked that flavor,” Colleen added, giving Hadley an encouraging smile.

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Eric shared Colleen’s sentiment and was grateful for her thoughtfulness. He spoke quietly, coaxing her, “Just one bite, all right?”

Brady gave her a hopeful look. “Hadley, you need to eat something.”

After a short pause, Hadley finally accepted the spoonful. She couldn’t turn down their kindness, not after all they’d done.

Seeing her eat, Eric turned to Colleen and Brady. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

“You don’t have to thank us.” Brady was surprised for a second, but then brushed it off. “We’re family. That’s what matters.”

“That’s right,” Colleen nodded in agreement. “Standing around here isn’t going to help. Hadley looks worn out. We should head out.”

“Let’s go.”

By that time, Cristian had wrapped up the paperwork and came back with Phillips in tow. Their group gathered around Eric and Hadley, guiding them toward the exit of the police station.

But before they could reach their vehicles, two crowds appeared from both directions, brandishing cameras and microphones. A swarm of reporters and bloggers had arrived. Some carried live-stream gear, broadcasting every second to their followers.

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Message from Noah: Have a great week dear readers. God loves you, and Noah wishes you all the best. (?O?=)? ?

P.S. I’ll keep you updated through the galn?vels WhatsApp community, but I’m sooo excited because there are so many amazing novels coming that I truly think you’re going to love. Plus, there are audiobooks/audionovels on the way that I sincerely hope you enjoy as much as I do. ?( ? )

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