Ernest remained silent, one brow faintly raised, watching Eric with a kind of amused detachment. Under that steady gaze, Eric’s confidence quickly unraveled. His voice faltered. Then—nothing. The words died in his throat.

He shut his eyes and grimaced. What was he doing? He was the younger brother, yet here he was, sticking his nose into Ernest’s personal affairs like a self-appointed judge. Had he lost his mind?

Ernest gave him a long, unimpressed stare—like one might give a particularly clueless puppy. For a moment, Ernest didn’t even know where to begin. He stared at Eric as if seeing a lunatic.

“That’s your conclusion? Looks like your brain’s really scrambled from that surgery.”

“Yes!” Eric straightened instinctively, like a soldier caught in the act.

“I am so sorry, I—”

“Who told you?” Ernest demanded, caught between disbelief and exasperation.

“Who told you that Hadley and I are in that kind of relationship?”

Ernest was in shock. Even if there was no blood relation, they had spent years together, and Ernest had never treated Hadley as anything but a real sister. The very insinuation of them in a romantic relationship seemed utterly ridiculous.

Eric looked up, startled, his mind trying to process the new reality. What did Ernest really mean? Had he gotten it all wrong?

“You and Hadley aren’t…” Eric began, voice low, uncertain.

“Enough!” Ernest cut him off sharply, his expression turning icy.

“Keep spewing that nonsense, and you’ll live to regret it.”

Was it truly that serious? But one look at Ernest’s darkened face, taut with fury, was enough to make Eric’s mind go completely blank.

His lips parted hesitantly.

“Then you and Hadley…”

Could it be Ernest simply didn’t want to acknowledge his relationship with Hadley publicly? He was still holding out for Locke’s mother, after all. And perhaps to him, any other woman—Hadley included—was ultimately unworthy of being named?

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“Tsk.” Ernest exhaled harshly, rubbing his temples like Eric’s words gave him a headache. His voice dropped, thunderous and cold.

“Wherever you got that ridiculous idea from—drop it. It’s complete and utter garbage.”

Eric stood frozen, dumbfounded.

Ernest seemed genuinely angry. But Eric still couldn’t stop himself.

“You really aren’t together?”

“Of course not!” Ernest barked, his anger boiling over.

“I already have Locke’s mom. How could there be anyone else? I love her—and only her!” He snapped, his jaw tight. Then, after a short pause, he let out a bitter laugh.

“Why am I even explaining this to you?”

He jabbed a finger toward Eric’s head.

“What’s wrong with you? I thought you only lost your memory, not your sanity! This is such a waste of my time!”

With that, he lowered his hand, turned around, and stormed toward the house.

“Ernest…” Eric called after him, still stunned, watching his brother disappear through the door.

Now there was no doubt. Ernest hadn’t lied—Eric had misunderstood everything.

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