“Yes.” Hadley pressed her lips together, meeting Ernest’s gaze directly. “I want to know your intentions—are you going to leave all of this behind you?” She needed to understand Ernest’s position before proceeding with the conversation.
If he still couldn’t make up his mind to punish Linda for what she had done, then further discussion would be pointless.
“Ernest, please be honest with me!”
After studying Hadley’s face for a long moment, Ernest spoke in a low voice. His brow creased slightly. “But Hadley, allow me to handle this. You just need to focus on living your life.”
“Ernest.” Hadley’s voice grew firm. “Elissa was my friend! We were close!” Her eyes began to redden. “I was there the day it happened. I witnessed it with my own eyes! This was a deliberate attack! It’s not just about you and Elissa!” Whether driven by conscience or duty, she couldn’t turn away from it.
“Ernest, I want the perpetrator to face justice! Unless…”
Hadley’s voice wavered with uncertainty. “Unless you’re trying to shield Linda.”
“Absolutely not!” Ernest shook his head with fierce determination. “Never!”
“Good.” Hadley’s smile returned. “I trust you, Ernest. And please trust me in return. Perhaps I can help you?”
Ernest looked puzzled. “How exactly do you plan to help me?”
Hadley straightened in her chair. “I need to see Chelsey and Ayla.”
In truth, after wrapping up filming and returning to Srixby, she had wanted to do this. But Chelsey and Ayla were convicted criminals, and only their relatives or legal guardians were permitted to visit them.
Hadley had no avenue to pursue, but Ernest probably did. “Ernest, you can arrange that, right?”
Indeed, within legal parameters, this was a minor matter for Ernest. He simply didn’t quite comprehend her reasoning.
“Why do you want to see them?”
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“We’ll discover that after I visit them,” Hadley said. “Perhaps I’ll develop a strategy after the meeting. Ernest, they are both key witnesses essential to the case!”
“I know.” Ernest nodded. “Quentin has been monitoring them, but so far, nothing significant has emerged.” Could Hadley uncover a lead?
“I know them better.” Hadley refused to surrender. “If once doesn’t work, I’ll see them twice! If twice doesn’t work, I’ll see them ten times, a hundred times!” She pleaded earnestly, “Ernest, at least allow me to try once?”
Studying Hadley’s eager and determined expression, Ernest remained silent for several moments before finally nodding. “Alright, I’ll arrange it.”
Hadley’s face lit up with relief. “Thank you, Ernest!”
“But I need to tell you this,” Ernest continued, laying out the situation for her. Seeing Chelsey would be straightforward. She was housed in White Lake Prison, serving a six-year sentence.
“Perhaps you shouldn’t meet with Ayla for now.” Ernest raised his hand, tapping his temple. “Her mental health condition deteriorated severely. Following sentencing, she was transferred to the Srixby No.2 Psychiatric Hospital.”
Srixby No.2 Psychiatric Hospital.
Was that so? Hadley felt slightly stunned, not expecting Ayla’s mental state to have deteriorated this severely.
“I still want to see her, Ernest. Is that possible?” Hadley’s persistence left Ernest with little choice but to agree.
“Alright, I’ll arrange it for you.”
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