The minutes slipped away faster than expected. A knock came at the door. “Mr. Scott,” Phillips called from the hallway. Hadley gave a small nod and let go of his hand, her smile gentle but tired. “Go ahead… I’ll be right here. Come for me the day after tomorrow.” She knew that once the forty-eight-hour hold ended, she’d be eligible for bail.

“You got it.” Eric nodded, his voice low and thick with feeling.

As he turned to leave, Dr. Brooks appeared down the corridor, medical bag in hand. He gave Eric a nod. “I’ll take a look at her now.”

Eric stepped to the side, allowing the doctor through without a word.

Not long after, Dr. Brooks came back out, his expression clouded with concern. “There’s something you should know, Mr. Scott. Her fever is tied to increased activity in her nervous system. If this continues unchecked, it could lead to complete nervous fatigue.”

A quiet sigh escaped Dr. Brooks. “I’ve written a prescription and passed it along to the hospital staff. Once the nurse gets it, she’ll administer the dose. It might offer some relief.”

“Might?” The word hit Eric like a slap, and a shadow fell across his face. “Are you seriously telling me it only might help?”

“Well… Mr. Scott—” Dr. Brooks hesitated, then pushed forward. “The root of Miss Pearson’s illness is neurological. It’s triggered by intense emotional strain and a lack of proper rest. Medication can only do so much—it doesn’t fix the underlying cause. In cases like—”

“Dr. Brooks!” Before he could say anything worse, Phillips quickly stepped in and grabbed his arm. “Why don’t you go check if the meds have arrived?”

“Right! Yes, of course!” Realizing his mistake, Dr. Brooks turned and rushed off down the hall.

Frozen in place, Eric clenched his jaw. Frustration and helpless anger simmered just beneath the surface.

“Mr. Scott,” Cristian spoke gently, trying to keep him grounded. “Let’s step back for now. Once the forty-eight-hour hold ends, we’ll be able to request bail.”

gaν.kn – ? ?

Forty-eight hours? Bail? The words meant nothing to Eric. They did nothing to ease the weight pressing on his chest.

Barely a few hours had passed, and Hadley was already burning with fever. Her condition was worsening. Dr. Brooks had made it plain—she wasn’t strong enough to handle this kind of stress.

Sure, the law said he could bring her home in two days, but this battle wasn’t ending anytime soon.

Early the next morning, once Joy had been dressed and fed, Eric left Jewel Avenue behind. Instead of making his usual stop at the office, he headed straight for the hospital. Outside the patient’s room, he paused and lifted his hand to knock.

“Come in.”

Drawing in a breath, Eric pushed the door open and walked inside.

This time, Linda wasn’t in bed. She had propped herself up in a wheelchair, looking more alert than before. The moment she saw Eric, her eyes lit up with a hint of surprise that quickly shifted into a smile. “You sure took your time. I’ve been waiting.”

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