Later that evening, Ernest and Eric both made their way back.

Lately, business talks—especially those involving upcoming product launches—had brought them into the same room more often than usual.

Eric had originally planned to visit Nyla. It wasn’t until he was nearly there that he found out Hadley and Joy had moved in.

“Having them here really brings a different energy,” Ernest said with a faint smile.

“Ever since they came back, Grandma’s been in high spirits. I haven’t seen her this joyful in a long time…”

His expression clouded as the words trailed off.

There was a time he imagined raising a daughter of his own.

But both Elissa and the child she carried had disappeared without a trace. He never stopped believing Elissa had somehow survived. The same hope, however, didn’t stretch to the child.

At the time of the accident, Elissa had barely entered her third month of pregnancy.

A car plunging into the ocean… it was the kind of tragedy few could walk away from.

“Ernest?” Eric caught the sudden change in Ernest’s face. His color drained, and something in his posture turned uneasy.

“Yeah.” Ernest gave a sharp blink, then straightened up with a practiced calm.

“I’ll go see how Hadley’s doing. Maybe she needs help settling. You might want to spend some time with Grandma.”

“Ernest…” Eric’s voice wavered, and he swallowed hard before continuing.

“Is Joy with Grandma right now?”

A small nod came from Ernest.

“I believe the maid already mentioned that, didn’t she?”

Worry crept further into Eric’s tone.

“I haven’t gotten Hadley’s permission to see Joy yet.”

M ? .

That admission caught Ernest completely off guard.

Even without his memories intact, Eric’s unease around Hadley and their daughter remained unchanged.

With a sigh, Ernest furrowed his brow.

“Let’s go ask her directly. We’ll head to her place together.”

“Alright,” Eric said.

Named for its signature red brick facade, Hadley’s new home—the Crimson House—sat tucked behind layers of overgrown branches, giving it a secluded, peaceful charm.

Meanwhile, inside the house, Hadley had nearly wrapped up her to-do list. After heading upstairs for a quick outfit change, she prepared to make her way to meet Nyla.

While making her way downstairs, Hadley caught sight of the two brothers waiting in the living room, standing tall and quiet beside one another.

“Ernest.” Hadley offered Ernest a warm smile before shifting her gaze to the man beside him.

“Hi, Eric.”

“Hi,” Eric replied, voice uncertain as nervous energy made his hands clammy.

Watching the awkwardness between them, Ernest couldn’t help but feel a quiet ache over how strangely life had turned out.

“Hadley…” Ernest motioned toward Eric, his tone gentle but firm.

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