“Eric.” Hadley’s laugh was hollow and brittle, tinged with resignation. “I timed this call perfectly… I won’t wait. After this, I’m walking straight to security check. One more thing… I’ve sent Joy to Brady’s place. While I’m gone, could you go to Jewel Avenue and collect your belongings?”
“No! I won’t do this!” Eric bit back a feral growl, his mind teetering on the edge of collapse. “Wait for me! You have to wait for me!”
“Eric.” Hadley dismissed his plea, her tone eerily calm and unshakable. “I’m hanging up now. Goodbye.”
“Hadley!” Eric’s voice shattered as he desperately tried to stop her. “Don’t hang up! I need to see you, no matter what!”
His heart convulsed, leaving his chest feeling carved out and hollow.
“Even if… even if you’re ending this, do it to my face! Hadley, I love you! I really love you!”
His tone collapsed into pleading, stripped bare with desperation. “Wait for me! Please… I’m begging you!”
On the other end, Hadley gripped her phone in silence for what felt like an eternity. Behind her sunglasses, her gaze drifted toward the security checkpoint.
Boarding for her flight had already commenced. She stared ahead, her voice fading to barely a whisper.
“I have to go now. Eric, goodbye.”
Her thumb pressed the screen, severing the connection. Then she powered off her phone and buried it in her bag. With measured steps, she advanced toward the security checkpoint.
“Ma’am, may I see your passport and boarding pass?”
“Here you go.”
“Thank you. Enjoy your flight.”
“Hadley! Hadley?” On the other end, Eric clung to the dead line, his head throbbing mercilessly.
“Ugh.” He crushed his palms against his temples, his face drained of all color.
? .
“Mr. Scott?” Phillips studied him with mounting concern. “Are you all right?”
Eric didn’t hear him at all. He clutched his phone with white knuckles and tried calling Hadley back. As expected, her phone was dead.
“Faster!” Eric’s eyes blazed crimson as he bellowed, “Floor it!”
“Mr. Scott, we’re already at maximum speed!”
“Run the light!”
“Uh… yes!”
The car accelerated, abandoning all traffic laws, careening recklessly toward the airport.
At the airport, Eric burst out of the car, Phillips scrambling behind him. He had to reach her in time.
“Mr. Scott! There are two flights to Ontmond tonight. Linda took the earlier one! Hadley should be on this one, the later departure! I’ve already contacted the airport. They’re holding it for you!”
.
.
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