In that instant, Eric felt an emptiness hollow out his chest.

So it was true.

After their divorce, they had really become complete strangers, never to reconnect.

“Why?” He struggled to articulate the tangle of emotions.

“After the divorce, couldn’t we at least still be friends?”

“There’s no need.” Hadley shook her head.

“We’re both busy with our own lives.”

Eric was caught off guard, unsure how to counter her.

“Can I ask…” Questions swirled in his mind.

“Why did we divorce? Was it because we didn’t get along?”

And in a way, it was true.

Hadley hesitated, then nodded.

“Yes, we didn’t see eye to eye.”

“What does that mean?” Eric pressed, unwilling to let it go.

“Was it my fault or yours?”

Hadley froze, realization dawning.

He truly remembered nothing—not of her, not of their past.

“Whose fault?” She considered for a moment.

“To be exact, we both had our issues. Honestly, we shouldn’t have married in the first place…”

“What do you mean?” Eric asked.

“Your grandmother arranged our marriage, and you didn’t want it.” As she spoke of the past, Hadley’s eyes grew misty, a quiet ache stirring within her.

“You loved someone else the whole time.”

Eric was stunned, the revelation hitting like a shockwave.

“I… I cheated on you?” he stammered.

“Not really.” Hadley shook her head.

“But you did meet her first, and she was always your priority.”

Eric’s lips parted, words failing him.

After a long pause, he managed, “Is it… Megan?”

“No, not Megan.” Hadley quickly corrected him.

“You and Megan got together after we split.”

“Then who—”

Hadley sighed, weary of his relentless probing.

“It’s all behind us. You don’t need every detail.”

But Eric wouldn’t let it go.

“Alright, I’ll tell you. Her name was Linda Harris.” Hadley relented.

“Linda Harris?”

“Yes.” Hadley met his gaze, nodding.

“She saved your life, grew up with you, and you always put her first, even after we married. In the end, we parted because of her. What else do you want to know? I’ll tell you anything you want to hear…”

Hadley’s words settled over Eric like a heavy fog, and he didn’t respond right away.

He stared at her, eyes sharp and searching, as if trying to form the right response but finding none.

.

.

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