But she couldn’t spare a moment to contemplate his presence or engage with him. She pressed hard on the accelerator, dismissed his attempts to get her attention, and roared past him.

Eric sat there, utterly baffled by her behavior. Where was she rushing off to now? And couldn’t she drive with a little more caution?

“Mr. Scott, should we continue the pursuit?” the driver asked hesitantly.

“Of course.”

At the nearest bus stop, Hadley spotted a familiar figure in the crowd. It was the same woman she had encountered on Maze Street—Andrea Benson, the one who had sicced a dog on her. Ernest had dug into the woman’s background afterward, but even then her connection to Chelsey remained a mystery.

A bus rolled in, and Hadley watched Andrea climb aboard. Moments later, it pulled away from the curb.

Hadley tailed it discreetly in her car—unaware that another vehicle was quietly trailing her as well. The journey stretched on. She followed the bus all the way to its final destination—the train station. Parking at a distance, Hadley frowned. Was Andrea planning to escape?

“Ma’am.” A firm knock on her window drew her attention—a security guard stood outside.

“You can’t park here. If you’re just dropping someone off, please do and keep moving. You’re blocking traffic.”

“Alright.” Hadley gave a quick nod and reluctantly drove off.

But she wasn’t ready to give up. She circled around, found a spot in the lot, and headed into the station on foot. Faced with a sea of people inside, a wave of helplessness washed over her. She was too late. Andrea had vanished into the crowd.

What now? If only Ernest were here in Srixby…

“Hadley!”

The familiar voice jolted her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Eric jogging toward her, his tall shadow cutting across the fluorescent-lit floor.

Ltеst chαpt?rs in glovs.

Startled, Hadley stared. He had followed her all the way here? Already in a foul mood, she snapped, “Why are you following me?”

“I…” Eric paused, lowering his gaze.

“I need to ask you something,” he murmured hesitantly.

Hadley folded her arms, frowning.

“Well? What is it now? Make it quick.”

“It’s just…” Upon noticing her impatience, Eric’s voice grew even softer.

“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“What?” Hadley’s eyes widened.

“Not this again. Didn’t you ask me the same thing yesterday? I told you—we don’t know each other. We’ve never met.”

“But…” Eric looked lost, his voice barely audible.

“Last night… I dreamed I was carrying your brother.”

Hadley froze. He dreamed about that? But that wasn’t a dream. It had really happened. Months ago, when Noreen forbade Brady from donating bone marrow to Joy, she had sent him to the mountains near Dracnesse Town. It was Eric who had found Brady and carried him out. Had he remembered? Was that memory returning?

Her heart skipped a beat.

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