But Hadley found herself unable to provide an answer.

Joy, perceptive beyond her years, had gradually begun to understand that Eric might never return. She had dissolved into tears and thrown heartbreaking tantrums several times because of his absence. Brady had shared these painful moments with Hadley during one of their regular phone calls.

Joy had cried as she asked him with trembling lips, “Where’s Daddy? Is he that busy?”

Over time, her desperate outbursts became less frequent. And today, for the first time since Hadley’s return, Joy hadn’t mentioned Eric at all.

Now, as Hadley watched Joy sleep peacefully, she gently stroked her daughter’s silky hair and murmured in a voice barely above a whisper, “Joy, your daddy… he was very sick, sweetheart. But now, he’s recovered completely.”

Hadley had also come to the painful realization that Eric probably wouldn’t come to see Joy anymore. Even though Hadley and Eric had separated, she had never deliberately prevented him from seeing Joy. Before leaving Srixby, she had even instructed the security guards at their gated community to inform Eric that Joy was staying with Brady if he ever came by looking for her. She had provided them with Brady’s address as well.

But Eric never came. Not even once.

Over the past five months, even though Hadley had been away filming, she had still heard fragments of news about Eric. She knew he had returned to the Scott Group and resumed his normal work routine with apparent ease.

That meant the fact that he hadn’t come to see Joy wasn’t about capability—it was about choice. He didn’t want to see her anymore.

This harsh realization struck Hadley like a physical blow. She had believed that no matter what happened between them, Eric, like her, would always cherish Joy above everything else.

But the stark reality was painfully clear.

Hadley suspected it was because he had grown to hate her. After all, back then, he had chased her to Velacca, pouring his heart out, but she had still chosen to leave.

g?ν. – ?

Shortly after her departure, he had fallen seriously ill. By the time she heard the devastating news, she was already in Ontmond and hadn’t returned immediately to his side. And when she finally did return, it was too late.

She thought perhaps it was simply fate—their bond had always been fragile, never meant to withstand such trials. Once, it was she who couldn’t accept him completely. Now, it was he who harbored deep resentment toward her.

She felt that from now on, they might not even be able to maintain the pretense of friendship.

Hadley told herself she didn’t mind. But she couldn’t help wondering how deeply he resented her—so deeply that he didn’t even want their precious Joy anymore.

At this point, Hadley was certain that he must have grown to hate her with every fiber of his being.

After an entire day spent resting at home, Hadley decided to visit Nyla at the sanatorium.

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