?Chapter 95:


    “Okay,” N responded, with tears forming in her eyes.


    Hadley then instructed everyone to leave. “You can all leave. I can manage on my own.”


    “Alright.”


    “Okay.”


    As the nurses and caregivers left, followed by Eric and Marshall, Eric cast a lingering nce back at Hadley, his expression reflecting a mix of emotions that were difficult to decipher.


    Hadley fetched a basin of water, pushed up her sleeves, and carefully began wiping down N’s body, taking her sweet time. She swapped out N’s old clothes for fresh ones, her hands moving softly and steadily, as though she were handling something precious.


    Meanwhile, Marshall and Eric sat across from each other, shooting the breeze.


    Marshall tipped his head toward the inner room where Hadley was busy. “She is not the same girl she used to be, huh?”


    “Not the same girl?” Eric muttered, a flicker of irritation sparking inside him. “You’ve barely crossed paths with her since she returned. What makes you think you’ve got her all figured out?”


    Marshall clicked his tongue, narrowing his eyes. “You don’t need a decade to spot it. The way she carries herself, that look in her eyes—it’s like night and day now.”


    His voice had a warm edge, as if he were tipping his hat to her. Eric wasn’t having it, his lips twisting into a smirk. “Old habits cling like burrs. It’s all a front, I’m telling you!”


    “A front?” Marshall raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. “What has she got to prove to you or me? Look, I get it—you’ve never been her biggest fan—but didn’t you both sign the divorce papers already?” His tone cut through Eric’s grumbling, sharp and knowing.


    He nodded toward the room again before continuing, “Check out how she is tending to N. Cut her some ck, man. Just treat her like family—like a sister or something.”


    Eric let out a dry huff. “Since when did you turn into a chatterbox? You came to see my grandma but barely lifted a finger. Finish your grub and hit the road!”


    “I refuse to,” Marshall jokingly replied. “I promise to save my meal for Hadley…”


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    “Enough!” Eric let out a half-amused, half-fed-up chuckle. “She is my…”


    “Sister now, isn’t she? Don’t worry, I’ve got this—now scram!”


    “Fair enough,” Marshall said with a shrug.


    He wolfed down thest of his breakfast in a couple of hasty bites.


    “I’ll hit the road then.”


    “Sweet,” Eric replied, tossing him a casual nod. “I’ll be a tadte, though.”


    The two had been teaming up on a project and originally nned to head out together after Marshall swung by to see N. But life threw a curveball, and Eric had to hang back a little longer.


    Soon after Marshall bolted, Hadley slipped out of the inner room. She had just finished sprucing up N—cleaned her up, got her into some fresh clothes—and was clutching a bundle of dirty clothes.


    A caregiver darted over to Hadley, all chipper. “Let me snag those for theundry!”


    “Thank you,” Hadley said, passing them off with a grin.


    Eric flicked his eyes toward Hadley, his voice softening before he could catch himself. “Go scrub those hands.”


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