She had lost Eric. She had lost Ernest. But if she couldn’t have them, neither could Elissa.

And neither could Hadley.

Linda smiled faintly. “This is my parting gift to you, Hadley. Cherish it.”

Hadley’s eyes narrowed. In one swift motion, she shoved Tamara aside and stormed forward. Her hand shot out.

Smack!

“Ah!” Linda gasped and clutched her cheek, stunned.

Smack!

Before Linda could react, another slap landed—harder than the first.

“You—”

Smack!

Linda tried to speak, but Hadley silenced her with another slap.

Hadley rolled up her sleeves and struck with both hands. Her eyes were empty; her mind completely blank.

She kept hitting Linda—over and over—repeating the motion without thought, like she couldn’t stop.

“What—what are we supposed to do now?”

Jane stood frozen, panic rising in her chest. She was about to rush forward and stop Hadley when Tamara’s sharp glance rooted her to the spot.

Cool-headed and unfazed, Tamara responded with an indifferent tone, “Relax. This won’t go beyond a few bruises.”

Years of experience had taught Tamara that Hadley’s strength, while fierce, wasn’t enough to cause lasting harm—bruises, maybe, but permanent damage? Unlikely. Besides, Linda was already in a wheelchair.

Tamara, trained to guard and observe, knew her duty was to keep Hadley safe from harm, especially from harming herself. As long as her hands remained uninjured, there was no reason to interfere.

? ? g?ν?

Time spent by Hadley’s side had taught Tamara one thing clearly—without a release, the pressure would eat her alive. Letting it out was the only way to keep her from breaking.

Tamara adjusted her stance, casually but deliberately placing herself between Hadley and any possible threat.

A low groan slipped from Linda’s lips as she clutched her head in agony. Trapped in her wheelchair, she had nowhere to run.

“Make it stop! I said stop!” she screamed, panic rising in her voice.

“Stop?” Hadley’s tone came sharp and cold. “Did you stop when you tore my life apart? Did you hesitate before you had Elissa killed? Tell me, did you ever stop then?”

Footsteps echoed from a distance at that moment. Unaware of the sound behind her, Hadley stayed focused, oblivious to the presence approaching.

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