When they entered the room, Hadley looked up. “Eric.” Her voice was soft. There was guilt in her eyes. “Are you still upset with—”

“No.” He reached across the table and took her hand.

Her throat tightened. She blinked rapidly, but the tears came anyway. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say those things. I was just overwhelmed.”

“It’s alright.” He held her hand tighter, frowning as he shook his head. “I shouldn’t have lashed out either.”

“Cristian.” Hadley turned to him at last.

She hadn’t been questioned yet, and Cristian hadn’t explained anything. Still, she could sense this wasn’t looking good. Her voice was steady. “Did Linda file a report against me?”

“Yes.” Cristian nodded. He glanced at Eric. “Hadley, things are more complicated now. Don’t panic. Just listen carefully.”

Hadley froze. Her gaze flicked to Eric. There was something else? She took a breath and nodded. “Go on.”

“Have you met with Ayla recently?” Cristian started.

As Cristian spoke, Hadley listened without interruption. By the time he finished, she understood it all.

“That’s where things stand…” Cristian’s voice faded, and silence settled over the room.

Hadley turned to Eric. Her body went rigid; every nerve felt on edge. “Eric…” She let out a dry laugh. “So I handed them the evidence they needed to drag me down. Does this mean I’ve sealed my fate?”

“No!” Eric tightened his grip on her hand and shook his head. “Don’t say that. If you don’t trust me, then trust Cristian. He’ll find a way.”

“Ha, ha-ha. She actually said I was trying to bribe her to testify against Linda?” Hadley’s eyes shimmered, the tears refusing to fall. Every breath she drew felt cold. “Why does it always end like this? This world is so twisted.”

She shook her head, her gaze hollow. “Linda and Ayla… they’ve done worse than I ever could.” Her voice rose, trembling. “And me? I did nothing wrong. All I ever wanted was justice—to expose the truth, to make them answer for what they’ve done. Why is that too much to ask?”

?ν﹒

She blinked hard, forcing the tears back.

“Nothing’s going to happen to you,” Eric said, his voice cracking. He hated seeing her like this—burdened, cornered. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Sure.” Hadley gave a dry smile. “Of course nothing should’ve happened to me.” She shook her head slowly, firmly, again and again. “I’ve done nothing wrong. I never laid a hand on anyone. I’m not afraid. The law won’t condemn me for something I didn’t do. There’s still justice in this world. And I’ll fight for it—until the end.”

“Yes. Exactly.” Eric held onto her hands, as much to steady her as to steady himself. “Keep that belief. Now, Cristian has to ask a few things, alright?”

Hadley wiped her face and turned to Cristian. “I made a bad call. I own that. Go ahead. Whatever you need to know, I’ll tell you.”

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