Gradually, Joy, emotionally drained from her tears, nestled against Hadley’s shoulder and drifted into an exhausted sleep.

Hadley released a quiet sigh and gently tucked a small blanket around her daughter’s sleeping form.

“Is she asleep?” Colleen glanced in the rearview mirror and asked softly, her voice filled with concern. “Are you holding up okay?”

“I’m fine,” Hadley replied, lifting her head with a brave smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Her eyes were rimmed with red, but they remained dry. She refused to let herself cry.

She was simply disappointed—deeply, profoundly disappointed.

Eric’s earlier coldness had been genuine, not some carefully constructed fa?ade.

She told herself she didn’t mind. After all, she was the one who had chosen to break up with him. But poor Joy! Now, Hadley could only pray that Joy wouldn’t have to encounter Eric again in the future.

A little later, Eric arrived at the underground garage, his footsteps echoing in the concrete space.

“Eric.” Megan spotted him from across the garage, slipped out of her car early, and waited expectantly by the side.

As he approached, she greeted him with a bright smile, reaching out to clasp his hand in an affectionate gesture. “I bought you a tie today. Take a look at it later and tell me if you like it…”

Before she could finish her sentence, she noticed the man beside her had gone completely rigid, especially the hand she was holding.

“Eric? What’s wrong?” she asked, confused.

Eric remained silent, his jaw tightening.

He frowned deeply, shifted his arm slightly, hesitated for a long moment, and then slowly withdrew his hand from her grasp.

As her hand was left empty, Megan’s eyes dimmed with hurt, and she awkwardly forced a smile. “You still can’t accept this, can you?”

? : ga l no v els .co m

It had been five long months since he was told she was his “girlfriend,” and he promised to sort things out.

“I’m sorry, Megan…” Eric apologized, his tone heavy with guilt. “I still need more time.”

Megan laughed quickly, though the sound was strained. “Sorry again? Didn’t I tell you it’s perfectly okay? I said I’d wait for you, remember?”

With that, she gently hooked her arm through his. “Are you comfortable with this instead?”

Eric remained silent, neither pulling away nor encouraging her.

She took a step back, gently guiding him forward so he believed, at least, he had to follow her lead.

“Yes.” He nodded slightly, his voice barely audible. “This is fine.”

“Then let’s go like this!” Megan giggled with forced cheerfulness. “This is good enough for now…” She then urged him gently, “Come on—get in the car! I want you to see the new tie I picked out for you.”

.

.

.