“Hadley!” Colleen’s voice broke as she glanced back, her eyes flickering toward the door.

“I’ve told Brady everything. Please… talk to him and try to help him understand.”

Hadley’s chest tightened, her voice soft with concern.

“Is there really no way to mend this?”

Colleen shook her head, her sobs catching in her throat.

“If there was anything I could do, I wouldn’t let him go. It’s tearing me apart to walk away.”

Footsteps thundered closer, accompanied by Brady’s desperate cry, “Colleen!”

“He is coming!” Colleen’s voice trembled as she prepared to flee.

“Hadley, please, help me!”

“I’ve got you!” Hadley nodded, her hand lifting in a gentle farewell.

“Take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will,” Colleen replied, her smile heavy with sorrow as she turned and slipped away.

Brady rushed over moments later, his voice raw with anguish.

“Colleen!”

“Brady!” Hadley rushed forward, placing herself in his path to stop him.

“Don’t go after her! You have to let her go!”

“Hadley!” Brady’s hands flew to his head, his voice breaking.

“I can’t— I really… I just can’t!”

“I know it’s hard,” Hadley said, her own eyes brimming with tears.

“But Colleen’s trapped in an impossible place, torn between you and her parents. She is hurting even more than you are.”

“Hadley!” Brady’s voice was a plea, his heart deaf to reason.

“I need to tell Colleen. I’ll wait, forever if I have to!”

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He wrenched himself free from Hadley’s grasp and bolted forward.

Hadley called, racing after him, but Brady was already gone.

Where had he run to?

Fumbling for her phone, Hadley dialed Brady’s number, her eyes scanning the empty street with growing unease.

Behind her, Megan and Eric emerged from the dining area, their meal concluded. Megan’s gaze caught on Hadley’s distressed figure, and she nudged Eric lightly.

“Look, isn’t that Hadley?”

Eric didn’t require Megan’s nudge to notice Hadley. The moment he stepped outside, Hadley’s distressed expression caught his attention, sparking curiosity about what trouble she might be entangled in this time.

When Megan pointed it out, however, Eric’s face remained impassive, as though he had only just noticed. He gave a subtle nod.

“Yeah, I see.”

“She seems upset, like something’s wrong,” Megan murmured.

“Should we check on her?”

Eric swallowed, pausing to consider before shaking his head.

“No, I don’t think so.”

“What?” Megan’s eyes widened in surprise.

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