For a moment, he wondered what fueled her desperation so strongly.

“Stay calm,” he said at last, his voice steady.

“We’ll exhaust every lead until Mr. Scott is found.”

“Thank you… truly, thank you!” Gratitude choked Hadley’s voice, though her gaze drifted past them, glassy and lost.

Every passing second seemed to pull hope further from reach. Fear gnawed at her, whispering that Eric might already be beyond saving.

Suddenly, hurried steps echoed from the doorway, chased by a firm, urgent call.

“Hadley!”

Hadley’s head jerked toward the voice, and in the next instant, she bolted in its direction.

Ernest arrived in a rush.

“Ernest!” Hadley ran straight toward him.

Up until now, she had managed to keep herself composed through sheer determination.

But the instant she saw Ernest, that fragile strength collapsed.

Everything she had been holding back surged to the surface.

Her lips trembled as she tried to speak.

“Eric, he…”

Moisture streamed from her swollen eyes, blurring her vision.

“Ernest…” Her voice cracked into sobs.

“Eric… I’m worried he might not survive this.”

She had never dared to speak those words to Ferris. Only Ernest could carry them.

“When the elevator crashed, he slammed against the wall!” she whispered.

A chilling thought suddenly struck her.

Explore more stories gα?ησνls?c?m

Hadley’s eyes grew wide with dread.

“He was already weak and dizzy—that was the reason he came here to the hospital today. And it’s only been six months since his surgery!”

There was no way his body could withstand such punishment.

“Ernest, I…”

The more she thought of it, the harder her tears poured.

“Don’t jump to the worst conclusion before we know anything, alright?” said Ernest, though worry pulled at his own heart. He refused to let fear take root.

He offered her a tissue.

“Wipe your eyes…”

Not far away, Ellis studied the scene, his brow tightening with concern.

The closeness between Hadley, Ernest, and Eric was plain to see.

After watching for a moment, he stepped forward.

“Mr. Flynn.”

Ernest faced him.

“Mr. Gomez. About Eric… I’m entrusting this to you. Please find my brother.”

“I’ll do everything I can.”

“Regarding this incident…” Ernest had thought it through on his way.

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