At the private terminal’s exclusive exit, Megan had already positioned herself, eagerly scanning for their arrival.

“Eric!” The moment she spotted him, she rose onto her tiptoes and waved with unbridled excitement.

“I’m right here!”

Eric lifted his gaze, and for one devastating moment, his treacherous mind superimposed the image of Hadley standing at the end of that distant alley, waving at him with such innocent joy.

His heart contracted with sharp pain, but he forced his features into a strained smile and quickened his pace toward Megan.

“Your timing is impeccable.”

Megan immediately threaded her arm through his, her voice tinged with lingering concern.

“Where did you disappear to? Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving town?”

“It was a last-minute thing…” Eric couldn’t bring himself to reveal the truth, quickly steering the conversation elsewhere.

“I promise I’ll give you advance notice next time.”

“I’ll hold you to that promise.”

As they emerged from the airport, the afternoon sun blazed down with merciless intensity.

Eric allowed his eyelids to flutter closed for just a moment, making a silent vow to himself that this chapter had reached its conclusion.

The past two days had been nothing more than a fevered dream. He and Hadley belonged to separate worlds, with separate destinies.

It had to remain nothing more than a dream.

It was a dream so shameful that he could never acknowledge its existence to another soul.

Megan gently slipped her arm through Eric’s, turned on her heel, and exited with a carefree laugh.

Your story hub is g?lnσνs?

In their wake, Phillips walked Hadley to the entrance, his eyes lingering on the pair as they disappeared into the distance.

Hadley lowered her gaze, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She turned to Phillips and said, “This is far enough. I can head back on my own.”

“Hadley.” Phillips looked at her as though he hadn’t heard a word she’d said.

“Megan and Mr. Scott… it’s not what you think.”

“What?” Hadley blinked, surprised and puzzled.

“Megan wasn’t Mr. Scott’s choice.” Phillips had kept those words buried inside for a long time.

“His father chose her for him. When Mr. Scott woke up, he remembered nothing, so his father told him Megan was his girlfriend.”

Hadley froze.

So that was the truth.

She had long suspected it. Ernest once told her that everything Eric knew was what Ferris had fed him.

“Mr. Scott never liked Megan. He just lost his memory—not his sanity…” Phillips looked at Hadley with urgency.

“Hadley, if you’re willing—just say the word, and he will come back to you.”

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