“Eric…” Her voice softened, but her eyes stayed locked on his. A deep ache swelled in his chest, and his expression grew grim. “Do you even realize what you’re saying right now?”

For a brief moment, Hadley said nothing. Then she gave a small nod. “I do.”

“Then why say something like that?” Eric’s voice wavered, strained by the weight of what he was holding back. “Don’t you remember the promise you made? Did it mean nothing to you?”

Hadley’s mouth stayed closed, her expression unreadable.

What exactly had she promised him?

“I’ll remind you, then!” Eric’s voice broke slightly as his eyes filled with hurt. “You told me that if I treated you right, you’d never leave. That we’d stick together no matter what. Always.”

He reached for her face, cradling it gently in his palms. “Those were your words, Hadley. Are you pretending they never came out of your mouth?”

“I haven’t forgotten.” A fresh wave of tears blurred Hadley’s vision, and her voice came out raw. “And I meant them. I truly did. But… I don’t have a choice anymore.”

Her hands tightened around the fabric of his sleeves, trembling. “You already know, Eric. Tamara must’ve told you everything. Elissa is gone. Ayla was the one who ran her down, but Linda gave the order!”

Tears spilled out as her voice cracked. “This is my fault! I can’t just pretend it didn’t happen while Linda walks away untouched!”

“And what about me?” Eric’s voice broke, his emotions fraying at the edges. He couldn’t hold it in anymore. Since the day before, he had tiptoed around her, dreading that this moment would come. But Hadley had still said it—still pushed him away. That kind of hurt was too much to bear.

“Did you ever stop to think about what I’m feeling?” The frustration snapped. Eric slammed his fist against the car’s interior wall. “Yes, Elissa didn’t deserve what happened. But does that mean I have to give up everything? Should I be the one to pay the price for someone else’s tragedy?”

His head dropped for a second, then lifted as he spoke with finality. “I’m not some selfless hero. I won’t agree to this. We fought so hard to be together, and I won’t stand by while you throw it all away!”

сρ ﹒

Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around her, his voice low and desperate. “Please… don’t do this. Don’t walk away from me.”

Resting her cheek against his chest, Hadley stared blankly at the roof of the car, tears spilling freely. “Eric… I wish I didn’t have to. But what else can I do? The recording alone won’t hold up. To bring Linda down, we need someone willing to testify. Ayla told me…”

“I don’t care what Ayla told you,” Eric interrupted sharply, unable to bear another word. “That’s all you care about now, isn’t it? Elissa’s case. Justice. Yes, Linda’s guilty. But she didn’t act alone! She had Gifford backing her up the entire time! Even if she pays for it, Elissa still won’t come back!”

“Yes!” Hadley’s complexion shifted, paling before flushing red. “But Gifford’s vanished! I can’t track him down—so what, I’m supposed to just let Linda walk…”

“What about me?” Eric asked again, his voice cracked with emotion. “Do I mean so little to you? Am I just something you can toss aside?”

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