However, Linda saw him clearly from where she sat—Eric was walking straight toward them.

“Eric!” With trembling hands, Linda tried to hide her face, tears slipping through her fingers.

For a moment, Eric froze, unsure of what he was walking into. Tamara had already briefed him—he knew Hadley would be here. That was why, after coming back from Orkmont, he headed straight over to get her. Still, nothing could have prepared him for this.

What he didn’t expect was to walk in on Linda and find Hadley mid-swing. Eric’s eyes never drifted to Linda; every bit of his focus landed on Hadley, who looked disoriented and far from stable.

“Hadley?” His voice came gently, unable to hide the concern behind it.

“Hmm?” Winded and drained, Hadley finally paused. Her chest rose and fell as she turned to face him. “So you showed up?”

A hollow laugh slipped out as she raised a hand, pointing toward Linda. “Relax. The woman you’ve been protecting is still breathing—just not as pretty as she used to be.”

The bitterness in her voice hit like a knife’s edge, carving deep into her own chest—and into Eric’s just the same.

“Hadley…” A pained look crossed Eric’s face as he slowly shook his head. “Please… don’t go down this path.”

“What path, exactly?” Hadley’s gaze burned, veins threading visibly beneath her reddened eyes.

A crack ran through her voice as she snapped, “Don’t hit her? Too late! I already did! So what now? You planning to throw me in jail?”

With no warning, she shoved her hands toward Eric, palms open in defiance. “Come on! Go ahead! Call them. Let them take me away!”

“Hadley…” Eric felt his chest tighten, a sting creeping into his eyes. He didn’t need to guess—she was teetering right on the edge.

“Do it!” Her chin lifted defiantly, voice rising with every word. “Turn me in! Say I assaulted her! What’s stopping you?”

? gν?

A bitter laugh escaped her. “Wouldn’t that be perfect? She has to stay in Srixby then. She’d be stuck here for good, right where she needs to be…”

“Hadley!” Without another thought, Eric reached out, cradled the back of her head, and pulled her against him.

He held her close, voice rough and desperate against her ear. “Don’t let her get to you like this… She’s not worth destroying yourself over. Not her.”

“Hmm?” Hadley remained rigid, her tone flat and distant. “You’re not going to do anything? You’re just going to let her walk away, aren’t you?”

“Hadley! Look at me!” Lifting both hands, Eric gently framed her face. He leaned in until their foreheads met and their eyes locked. “Please hear me. I love you… only you.”

Hadley stood frozen, too shocked to move.

For a split second, she questioned if she’d heard him correctly. More than ten years had passed between them, and never—not once—had those words left his lips. Not even when they exchanged vows. But here he was, saying them now, in this moment of unraveling.

.

.

.