Another two hours slipped by. Finally, Eric landed in Velacca.

“Mr. Scott, I’ll check if Hadley booked a hotel or made any other arrangements,” Phillips said.

“Alright,” Eric replied, his expression heavy with worry. “Hurry, please.”

“Got it!” Phillips dashed off.

Eric lingered at the airport, his eyes scanning the bustling crowd. The sea of faces blurred before him. Suddenly, his vision wavered. He squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head to clear it.

Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a small bottle of pills, tipped one into his palm, hesitated, and then added another. He swallowed them dry.

After a moment, he opened his eyes, feeling a touch steadier. And then—his gaze locked on something.

Was that… Hadley?

“Hadley!” Overcome with a surge of hope, Eric rushed toward the slender figure in the crowd. “Hadley!”

His shout rang out, drawing curious glances from passersby. The figure paused briefly, her back to him. He knew it was her. It had to be her.

“Hadley!” Eric’s eyes misted as he ran with every ounce of strength. “Hadley! Wait for me!”

But Hadley lingered for only a heartbeat. Her grip tightened on her bag’s strap, her sunglasses shielding her emotions. Her pace quickened, heels tapping with purpose as she approached the security checkpoint.

“Hadley!”

Eric’s eyes followed her, and realization struck—she was heading to a flight bound for Prineville. She had seen his message. She knew he was coming, and now she was changing her flight to avoid him.

Could she really be so unwilling to face him? He couldn’t accept it. Hadley wasn’t that callous.

“Hadley! Look at me!”

At the checkpoint, Hadley was already through—her figure growing smaller as she moved further into the airport.

“Hadley!”

Eric lunged forward but was halted by an officer.

“Please show your passport and boarding pass,” the officer said firmly.

“Let me go!” Eric’s voice was frantic as he pointed at Hadley’s retreating form. “That is my wife!”

“Sir, I’m sorry, but I need to see your boarding pass first.”

“Hadley! Hadley!” Watching her figure shrink into the distance, Eric felt his world crumbling. “Turn around and look at me, please!” He bellowed, “Damn it! I came all the way here for you, and you won’t even look at me?”

Hadley kept walking, never once looking back.

Eric refused to believe it. Surely she hadn’t heard him. She wouldn’t just walk away like that.

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