?Chapter 6:


    It was unmistakably hot, and her breathing wasbored, as if each breath scorched her lungs.


    Clearly, she was running a fever.


    The fever was probably a result of being soaked in the rain yesterday. Hadley’s initial reaction was to search for some cold medicine in her room. Just as she was about to take one, she hesitated.


    Remembering her pregnancy, she knew she couldn’t take the medicine. Although she hadn’t decided whether to keep the baby, she felt a responsibility to protect it while it was still part of her.


    “Agh…”


    A wave of nausea hit Hadley hard, causing her to groan.


    She clutched her mouth and hurried to the bathroom, where she retched into the toilet until she feltpletely empty.


    Afterward, she turned on the tap, rinsed her mouth, and sshed her face with cold water to soothe her burning skin.


    “Hadley!”


    Eric’s voice, deep and slightly raspy, echoed with a note of exasperation.


    Impatient from waiting, he hade upstairs to check on her progress. Noticing she still wasn’t ready, he demanded,


    “Hadley, what’s taking so long? Get out here!”


    “On my way,” replied Hadley, dabbing her face with a towel. She emerged from the bathroom, herplexion ashen, her voice a faint murmur.


    “Eric,” she whispered. “Might I request to leave a dayter?”


    Her health was so precarious that she worried about bing sick on the flight.


    Should she fall ill on the ne, she would be entirely alone, without assistance.


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    “Why?” Eric asked, his expression clouding with suspicion.


    “What’s your scheme now? Yesterday, you tried to see Linda at the hospital, and I had to stop you. Are you attempting something else today?”


    Did he truly have such a low opinion of her?


    “It’s not what you think…” Hadley replied, her eyes widening with the effort to restrain her tears.


    “I feel very sick. I need to consult a doctor…”


    “Enough of this!” Eric interjected sharply, not allowing her to exin further.


    He examined her face briefly before a slight smirk appeared.


    “Feigning illness again? You expect me to believe that?”


    His voice took on a cold edge.


    “Even if you are sick, how serious could it be? Linda has just lost a child and is still in the hospital, while you’re here, perfectly upright! You’ll cope. It’s not the end of the world!”


    Hadley reeled from his words, her face a picture of astonishment.


    Eric paid her no mind, moving swiftly to the closet to retrieve the already packed suitcase.


    “Leave whatever isn’t packed. Just buy what you need when you get there! It’s alling from my family’s funds anyway. I can’t afford to linger here with you.”


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