But… something didn’t sit right. He remembered clearly—he had once asked Hadley if she and Ernest were involved. He even asked her how long they’d been together. Even though she didn’t acknowledge their relationship, she didn’t deny it either. Why?
Eric remembered that during their very first meeting, Hadley’s daughter had run straight to him, calling him “Daddy” and clinging to his side.
If this wasn’t because he looked like Ernest and the little girl mistook him for his brother, then what explanation was there?
“Ernest!” Eric finally snapped out of it and caught up, breathing a little faster.
“Yes?” Ernest stopped and turned around.
“Do you need something?”
“I do.” Eric swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry.
“Is there any chance Hadley had feelings for you, and maybe you just never noticed?”
Ernest stared at him in disbelief, his face darkening with frustration.
He let out an exasperated sigh.
“Honestly, can we stop this nonsense? I’ll say it one more time—Hadley and I could never have romantic feelings for each other!”
“All right, don’t get upset!” Eric rushed to smooth things over, seeing how close Ernest was to losing his temper.
“I promise, I won’t bring it up again… Let me rephrase it. What exactly is your connection with Hadley?”
It was eating at him, and he needed to know.
“If you’re not a couple, then why do you care about her so much?” he asked.
Most people might be friendly, but not Ernest.
Ernest was distant with almost everyone, rarely even making small talk with mere acquaintances.
“You’re not as clueless as you seem.” Ernest shot him a sideways look and gave a small scoff.
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“Hadley is my sister.”
Eric blinked, caught off guard.
He could only repeat the word, lost in thought.
“Sister?” Ernest’s sister?
“Then…” Eric pointed hesitantly at himself, trying to piece things together.
“What does that make her to me?”
After all, he was Ernest’s younger brother.
“Do I actually know her?” Eric wondered aloud.
Squinting, Ernest thought, “Hadley—he brought this up himself. It’s not like I put the idea in his head.” Fixing his gaze on Eric for a couple of seconds, he asked, “Did something come back to you?”
A slow shake of Eric’s head answered that. No trace of memory surfaced for him. Yet a sense lingered, so Eric admitted, “It just feels like she and I may have crossed paths before.”
That caught Ernest for a moment. He let out a silent sigh. Eric was still in the dark. But the fact that Eric was asking questions meant the truth would reveal itself sooner or later.
After mulling it over, Ernest offered a nudge.
.
.
.