“It just feels… rushed.”

“Rushed?” Megan arched a brow, a bitter laugh escaping her.

“I think it’s long overdue.”

Her patience was fraying at the edges.

“Do you know how long I’ve waited for you? I was willing to wait forever! But now, with you acting like this… if I keep waiting, will your heart still belong to me?” Her fists tightened, resolve hardening in her chest.

“I’m done waiting!” Megan declared, her voice firm with conviction.

“Just tell me, Eric, will you agree or not?”

“Yes, I will,” Eric replied, nodding solemnly.

What choice did he have when the woman he had loved for over a decade laid her heart on the line?

“Let’s do it your way,” he added, his tone resolute.

Megan blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Relief then washed over her, and a shaky laugh mingled with her tears.

“Good!” she exclaimed, her emotions a whirlwind of joy and release.

Eric let out a quiet sigh, retrieving a tissue and offering it to her.

“No more tears, okay?”

“It’s your fault I’m crying!” Megan shot back, snatching the tissue with a fierce glare.

“Don’t you dare betray me, Eric.”

Shaking her head, she rose from her seat.

“I’m going to freshen up. You go ahead and finish your breakfast.”

“Alright,” Eric murmured, standing still, rooted in place.

This was how it would be. He would follow Megan’s lead. What else could he do? He couldn’t fathom betraying the woman who had been by his side for over ten years. And deep down, he believed that if his heart had chosen her before, it would stay true in the years to come—even though he couldn’t remember anything about her.

As for Hadley, she was a thought he had no right to entertain. Before anything could take root, he would sever those feelings for good.

l?v.cm brings fresh updates

That evening, Ernest arrived at Hadley’s home with Locke for dinner. Locke and Joy sat side by side, their heads bowed over their plates, eating with quiet focus.

“Joy, don’t just pick at the meat,” Locke said gently, ever the responsible older cousin.

“You need your vegetables, too.”

“Got it,” Joy replied with a nod.

Their easy camaraderie warmed the room, and Ernest and Hadley shared a knowing smile.

“With Locke in the same class as her, you don’t have to worry about Joy,” Ernest remarked, his tone reassuring.

“Absolutely,” Hadley agreed.

“Locke is dependable.”

“By the way, I never knew Joy is short for Joyce. I always thought it was just Joy.” Ernest’s voice softened, almost a whisper.

“Joyce Scott. That’s a pretty…”

“Name. You chose it?”

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