“How could you do this to me? How could you?”

“What?” Eric stared back, looking completely lost.

“What are you talking about? What did I do?”

“No…” Hadley’s whole body shook. Tears rolled down her cheeks while a sharp pain stuck in her throat, making it hard to breathe.

What had he really done?

He had erased her from his memory.

He had forgotten sending her away to Blathe. He had forgotten how she and Joy had to scrape by in the slums just to survive.

He had forgotten every moment Joy spent fighting illness, so young and so frail.

He had forgotten how he had pushed her aside again and again, always leaving her for Linda.

Even when he swore he loved only her, he could never break free from Linda, whom he had cared about since they were kids.

He had never truly cared about her feelings, not once from the very beginning to the bitter end.

Looking ahead, Hadley knew that even if fate made their paths cross, even if he woke in the middle of the night haunted by dreams, not even a shadow of regret or longing would cross his mind.

How could he do this?

He had let every memory of her slip away without a second thought. Now she was the only one left who would carry these memories and scars.

Only her.

She was gone from his mind as if she had never existed.

He had wiped away every memory of her and Joy.

Both of them had vanished from his mind, leaving nothing behind.

A pounding ache spread across Hadley’s forehead. Her mouth hung open as she tried to catch her breath, the tightness in her throat stealing her voice.

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Her complexion faded to a pale gray.

Upon noticing her distress, Eric’s face filled with worry. He reached out a steadying hand to keep her from falling.

“You’re not looking well. Let me help you find a room and lie down. We can talk when you’re feeling better, alright?”

The moment his hand drew near, Hadley pulled away and took several hurried steps back. She fixed her gaze on him for a brief second and then spun around, clutching her dress as she broke into a run.

“Hadley!” Eric called out, moving forward as if to follow.

Before he could take another step, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Eric swiped the screen.

“Hello?”

“Eric?”

Megan’s voice filtered through the receiver. She had arrived with him earlier.

“Where did you disappear to?” Megan asked.

“I only left for the restroom and now you’re gone.”

“Sorry about that,” Eric replied quickly.

“I’m—”

He scanned his surroundings, searching for a way to describe where he was. In the distance, he could see Hadley’s figure growing smaller as she ran. A wave of anxiety rushed over him.

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.

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