“Hop in.”

“Alright.” Megan gave a small nod of agreement.

Not far from them, Hadley lingered inside the subway station entrance. From a quiet spot, she watched as Eric stepped out of the car, said something to Megan, and then both of them returned to the vehicle. Moments later, the car eased back onto the road and disappeared from view.

A faint smile tugged at Hadley’s lips.

It was then that things finally made sense. Eric had left Joy behind because his life was now tied to Megan’s. Although it still felt cruel, she could now see how it happened. Letting go of old ties was part of beginning again. Sooner or later, he and Megan would build their own family and eventually have their own children. As for Hadley, she would remain by Joy’s side—and that was something she could hold on to.

Joy might not have a father anymore, but at least Joy wouldn’t spend her life chasing after a man who no longer looked back.

For the first time in a while, Hadley felt that maybe things had unfolded the way they were meant to. As the car vanished from sight, Hadley murmured, “Eric, I hope you find the happiness you’re looking for.”

Without lingering another second, she inhaled deeply, spun on her heel, and merged into the sea of commuters. While weaving through the flow of people, she pulled out her phone and placed a call.

“Hi, Ernest. Are you busy right now?”

“Not at all,” Ernest’s voice came through steady and low, just like it always did.

“Did something happen?”

“I just came back from Maze Street,” Hadley answered, deciding not to leave anything out.

Before she could go on, Ernest cut in sharply.

“Didn’t I warn you not to go by yourself? I told you to let me handle that kind of thing. It’s not the kind of place a woman like you should be!”

“I’m okay,” Hadley said with a small laugh.

L?tτ ?нαρτ?rs ιn glov?ls.

“I actually spent time around places like that, remember?”

“That was then!” Ernest interrupted, firmer this time.

With her now in his care, the idea of her getting hurt was something Ernest couldn’t tolerate. Frustration crept into his tone.

“If you keep ignoring what I say, then I’ll have to pull you out of all this, and you won’t be visiting Chelsey anymore!”

“Please don’t!” Hadley quickly backtracked, her voice laced with urgency.

“I get it, alright? I messed up. I won’t do it again!”

That seemed to ease him a bit. Though Ernest let out a heavy sigh, he hadn’t meant it literally—he could never actually turn his back on her. Even so, he didn’t soften.

“This is the last time I’ll let it slide. I mean it.”

“Got it.”

A beat later, Ernest asked, “Did you find anything? Is that why you called?”

“Yes!” Hadley explained everything in detail.

“She didn’t say it outright, but I’m certain she knows Chelsey.”

“Alright. I’ll have Quentin take over from here,” Ernest replied firmly.

“You don’t need to involve yourself in that part anymore. Just focus on winning Chelsey over emotionally. Understand?”

“Understood!”

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