Hadley froze. She admitted it? “Linda Harris!”
“I’m right here,” Linda replied, her voice rising. She lifted her chin and stared back without flinching. “Why all the yelling? Still can’t stand the truth? I won. That’s all there is to it.”
She let out a short laugh. Her eyes gleamed with a cold, biting edge. Her voice dropped to a soft, cutting tone. “Elissa took Ernest from me. This was her punishment.”
Hadley’s vision blurred. Her body trembled with rage. “You killed her. You’re a murderer!”
She lunged, but Tamara grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Hadley, don’t.” Hadley had already suffered too much because of Linda. Kindness was no match for a twisted heart.
“Humph.” Linda smirked. Her lips curved into a shallow smile. “And you… I bet it eats you up inside.”
Her eyes darted, gleaming with calculation. “You know, I’m flying to Ontmond tonight. Eric made the arrangements himself.”
Her smile deepened. “I’ll be gone soon. He’s all yours. But tell me—why didn’t he lay a finger on me? Why do you think that is?”
Hadley froze. The color drained from her face. Her mind raced back to the night before, to that heated conversation with Eric. Her fists clenched at her sides, fingernails biting into her palms.
She forced a smile. “So what—you’re saying he still has feelings for you?”
“I wouldn’t know.” Linda shrugged, her expression laced with false innocence. “He said it was for your sake. That he didn’t want to see you suffer. But then again…” Her voice shifted. Her gaze locked on Hadley. “Do you really believe him? Not even a flicker of doubt?”
Her lips curled as she went on. “We were together for over ten years. He may pretend I’m a stranger now, but in the end, he still gave me what I asked for. He let me go even knowing everything I’ve done.”
Every word struck like a blow. Hadley’s head pounded.
: ν?﹒
“Shut up!” she snapped, grabbing at her temple. “Just stop talking!”
“Hmm?” Linda trailed off, then broke into laughter. It echoed through the cemetery—sharp, mocking, hollow. Her eyes never left Hadley. “Such a strong reaction. You’re furious, aren’t you? Because deep down, you’re thinking the same thing I am.”
Hadley stared at her, feeling something hollow crack open inside her chest. “So what if I am?”
“So what?” Linda’s laughter cut off. The smile faded. Her gaze turned cold. “Aren’t you shattered? The man you fought for, the one you trusted… doesn’t love you the way you thought. I killed Elissa. I nearly killed you. And he still let me walk away. I told you I’d show you the truth. That he never truly loved you. And now, here it is.”
She smiled, victorious. “This is the wound you’ll carry for the rest of your life. Every night, when sleep won’t come and your thoughts won’t stop, you’ll turn to the man beside you—and feel nothing but doubt and unease. Hadley…” She spoke Hadley’s name slowly, savoring it. Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “I want you to relive it—every single day. The pain I gave you. The way I stole Elissa from you. I want you to live in doubt and grief, every waking hour.”
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