“Hadley!” Eric called out, immediately running after her.

Brady, Colleen, and the rest rushed after them, while the persistent reporters trailed close behind, still shouting questions.

Hadley ran without direction, eyes squeezed shut and her face tilted toward the ground, oblivious to everything around her. She had no destination, just a desperate need to escape.

Suddenly, her legs gave out beneath her. Her body pitched forward, sending her straight toward the pavement.

“Hadley!” Eric’s voice cracked with panic as he rushed ahead.

In the nick of time, he reached out and caught her, saving her from hitting the ground.

“Hadley?” Eric’s pulse pounded as he looked down at her limp form in his arms. Hadley had lost consciousness the instant he caught her, completely worn out.

“What’s wrong with her?” “Is she alright?”

Eric’s frustration snapped. He glared at the reporters clustered around them and barked, “Out of the way! Move now!”

The reporters hesitated, casting nervous glances at each other. They might not have wanted to leave, but none dared challenge Eric in that moment. One by one, they started backing off.

With his jaw set, Eric lifted Hadley and held her close. “Phillips!”

“I’m here, Mr. Scott!”

“Collect every bit of media those reporters shot—photos, videos, audio, all of it! I don’t want anything slipping out. Shut down any live streams on the spot!”

“Got it.” Phillips motioned to the security team. “You two, follow me!”

“Yes, sir!”

The bodyguards quickly stepped in, moving to keep the reporters away. “Sorry, folks. You’re free to leave, but you’ll need to turn over anything you recorded tonight.”

“What? That’s not happening!”

Every journey starts at gα?ησν?s?c?

“Don’t make this harder for yourselves.”

“This isn’t fair!”

While security dealt with the media, Eric carried Hadley straight to the car and called out to Tamara, “Get the doctor on the line—right now!”

Eric brought Hadley back to the house on Jewel Avenue without delay. It was already late by the time they got home. Joy was sound asleep, so there was no risk of waking her.

The doctor arrived soon after and checked Hadley carefully.

“Mr. Scott, Miss Pearson is going to be all right. She simply collapsed from exhaustion.”

A sleepless night and nonstop anxiety had finally caught up with her.

“With all the emotional strain she’s under…” The doctor trailed off, looking hesitant.

“What is it?” Eric, his nerves worn thin, pressed for a straight answer. “Just tell me. Is there something wrong with her?”

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