Tears streamed down her face as she choked out, “It’s Hadley. I’m here. You’re going to be okay.”
Eric observed quietly, a strange sensation stirring within him. The scene felt oddly familiar, as if he had witnessed something similar before. Nyla, Hadley… why did it tug at his memory? His throat tightened. It was a feeling he hadn’t experienced since his recent surgery.
“Mr. Scott, Miss Pearson,” a nurse interrupted, “Mrs. Flynn needs to rest now.”
“Okay,” Hadley replied, wiping her tears and releasing Nyla’s hand.
“Please take good care of her.”
“Of course,” the nurse assured.
Outside the treatment room, Hadley gently shut the door and stepped back into her high heels. As she turned, she almost collided with Eric, who stood motionless, mere inches away. Startled, she quickly stepped aside.
Eric hadn’t intended to be so close; his thoughts were elsewhere. Her sudden movement caught his attention, and he frowned.
“Hadley?” he said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. His gaze narrowed.
“Did we know each other before?”
It seemed logical to assume they had. As Ernest’s partner with a deep bond to Nyla, their connection clearly wasn’t new. As her boyfriend’s brother, Eric believed their paths had surely crossed at some point before he lost his memories.
Hadley’s eyes widened briefly in alarm. Why was he asking? Had something stirred in his memory? After more than five months since his surgery, with no recollection, could he suddenly be remembering her? No—if he truly recalled, he wouldn’t phrase it as a question.
Regaining her composure, she offered a slight smile and shook her head.
“No, we barely know each other.”
“Really?” Eric pressed, studying her intently.
“We’ve never met? Not even once?”
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“Not at all,” Hadley replied, shaking her head with conviction.
“Then…” Eric opened his mouth to probe further, but Hadley’s phone buzzed.
Hadley exhaled in relief and answered.
“Hello, Zane?”
“Hadley!” Zane’s voice was frantic.
“There’s trouble—Brady’s mother is at the Hayes residence!”
“What?” Hadley’s face fell. This could spell trouble for Brady and Colleen’s relationship.
“I’m on my way!”
“Alright!”
Ending the call, Hadley lifted her skirt and hurried toward the exit.
“Hadley!” Eric called after her, taking a few steps in pursuit. His phone rang—it was Megan. He glanced at the screen, then looked up and saw Hadley rushing back toward him.
“Mr. Scott!” she shouted.
Eric’s pulse quickened. Without hesitation, he silenced his phone and tucked it away.
Eric’s pulse quickened as Hadley approached, her hurried steps eating up the distance between them. His mouth felt dry while a tense, unfamiliar pressure coiled in his chest.
“Mr. Scott!” Her voice carried across the space between them.
.
.
.