“Why did you do that?”
Eric struggled to find the right words. His throat tightened as he finally spoke.
“He was getting out of control. I thought this would calm him down.”
“Calm him down?” Hadley shot back, her anger boiling over.
“What are we supposed to do now?”
“Trust me—I’ll take care of it,” Eric said, nudging Zane aside so he could steady Brady.
“I’ll carry him. Just tell me where you want us to go, and I’ll make sure he gets there.”
There really wasn’t any other option. They needed to head home.
“Let’s get in the car!”
“Alright!”
Eric agreed, lifting Brady onto his back and making his way to the car. But halfway there, he froze in his steps.
Hadley worried Brady might slip off Eric’s back. She reached out to steady him just as Eric came to a halt.
“What is it? Why’d you stop?” she asked, startled.
“Oh, right.” Eric blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. He started walking again toward the car.
A strange feeling had crept up on him—like déjà vu. As if he’d carried someone like Brady before. Same weight. Same posture.
By the curb, the driver stood waiting, the car door already open.
Not far off, parked across the lot, Megan sat in her car, phone in hand. Every so often, she lit up the screen. Still no messages. The phone remained silent.
All night, Eric had vanished—no calls, no replies. At first, she’d only felt uneasy. Then Noreen showed up and made a scene, and it hit her—Hadley had disappeared too. That was when the suspicion started. Could they have left together?
So she waited even after the crowd thinned out. Brady was still around. There was a chance Hadley would come back. And she was right.
Now Megan watched from her car—Eric walking beside Hadley, carrying Brady like it was second nature. She turned her eyes away, jaw clenched, and pushed her door open.
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But the moment she stepped out, a bodyguard from the Scott family blocked her path.
“What?” Megan stopped short, frowning. She kept her voice low.
“What are you doing?”
“Miss Aston, I’m sorry. You can’t get out of the car. It’s late. You should head home.”
“What did you just say?” Her face twisted with disbelief.
“Who do you think you are, telling me what to do? Ridiculous. Move.”
“I’m afraid we can’t.” The guard didn’t budge.
“You!” Megan snapped, pointing at them.
“Where’s Phillips? Get him. Now.”
“Miss Aston.” Phillips appeared the moment she spoke.
“Perfect timing!” Megan waved him over.
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