He pressed the number six and then the third-floor button. “I need to collect a friend along the way. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Of course not.” Hadley smiled graciously. Why would that be a problem? The elevator wasn’t her private property, after all.

As the elevator glided upward, they continued their easy conversation, punctuated by comfortable laughter.

When they reached the third floor, the elevator came to a smooth stop, and the doors slid open with a soft whoosh. Outside stood a familiar figure.

Hadley felt her breath catch. It was Eric—again? Were they destined to keep running into each other?

Srixby suddenly felt impossibly small. How many times had she ventured out since returning? Every single time, she seemed to encounter him! It was as if fate were playing some cruel joke on them both.

At least Joy wasn’t with her this time—that was one small mercy.

“Mr. Scott,” Marshall greeted with a teasing smirk. “Don’t just stand there like a statue—come in. Someone’s waiting for us.”

“Alright.” Eric’s emotions churned with complexity. He saw Hadley and instantly remembered her. A face as striking and memorable as hers was impossible to forget. Especially since she had delivered that stinging slap across his face.

But as he stepped into the elevator, Hadley suddenly tightened her grip on her bag strap and tried to brush past him toward the exit. Was she trying to leave?

“Hey!” Marshall exclaimed in bewilderment. “It’s only the third floor! We haven’t reached the sixth yet!”

“I’m getting off here…”

Eric understood her intention immediately. Was she leaving because of him?

Without thinking, he reached out and caught Hadley’s wrist firmly. “Why are you running away from me?”

“Let go of me!” Hadley was astonished by his boldness. Why was he grabbing her? Wasn’t he the one pretending to be a stranger before?

? ? : g?ν

“No!” Eric refused to release her so easily.

What was happening here? Marshall’s eyes widened in confusion. Didn’t Eric lose his memories completely?

Ferris had warned everyone that anyone who dared mention Hadley’s name to Eric would be declaring war on the Scott family. Had Eric suddenly remembered something important?

Marshall felt a surge of worry. But this had nothing to do with him! He hadn’t tipped Eric off about anything.

“You…” Eric’s face darkened like a storm cloud, his fury boiling over. “Am I some kind of plague? You see me and immediately run?”

“Yes!” Hadley replied with fierce conviction, throwing his words back at him. “You’re exactly like a virus! A disease! I don’t want to see you! I can’t share an elevator with you, and I certainly can’t breathe the same air as you!”

Eric was completely stunned by her vehemence.

.

.

.