?Chapter 117:


    “Now you’re sorry?”


    Eric’sughter was sharp and mocking. “Now Grandma’s distressed. What if she falls ill because of this stress? Can you handle that?”


    “Stop it!” N interjected forcefully, positioning herself between them.


    “If there’s any stress, it’ll be because of you, Eric, not Hadley!”


    “Grandma…”


    Eric’s voice faltered, overwhelmed by frustration. Whose side was she really on?


    “A divorce, really?” N’s voice trembled, her eyes starting to tear up. “Eric, you promised me. Yes, Hadley has made her mistakes, but we sent her away for four years! Wasn’t that punishment enough?”


    “Grandma,” Eric said, his hand massaging his forehead as he tried to formte a defense. “You always take her side. Have you ever considered that maybe I just don’t want to be with her?”


    “Then who is it that you do want?” N retorted, her eyes piercing through him.


    Words escaped Eric at that moment.


    N let out a soft, cold chuckle, though she held back slightly, careful not to humiliate her grandson too openly.


    “You use me of forcing you into marriage with Hadley. But weren’t you the one who agreed to it? Didn’t you nod and say yes?”


    It was true; N had always envisioned Hadley as a good match for Eric, but she would never have pushed him into it without his consent.


    Eric stiffened as N brought up the past, realizing he could not refute her words.


    Hisplexion paled, and he nodded reluctantly. “Yes…”


    Without hesitation, he tried to qualify his statement, saying, “That was my mistake. I never should have…”


    “Eric,” N interjected sharply, cutting off his excuses. “You’re not a child anymore. It’s time to ept the consequences of your actions. Hadley was your choice.”


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    “Are you really going to just walk away from her now? Do you see her as someone disposable? Should your error condemn her to unhappiness forever?”


    Eric found himself without a rebuttal. His only option was to bow his head in silence.


    “I refuse to ept this,” N said with resolve. “As long as I breathe, I cannot ept such a thoughtless divorce!”


    “Grandma,” Eric attempted to exin. “It’s clear we’re not a match…”


    N dismissed his reasoning. “How much time have you spent together, really? Barely two months as a married couple before she departed. You won’t know if you’repatible until you give it a real chance!”


    At that moment, N grabbed at her chest over her heart.


    “Grandma!”


    “N!”


    In a flurry of concern, Eric and Hadley hurried to her side, offering their support.


    “Call the doctor immediately!”


    “Right away!” Hadley eximed, dashing off.


    “Eric,” N grasped her grandson’s hand firmly. “Your treatment of Hadley isn’t fair… I know you still hold her responsible for what happened to Linda’s child, and trust me, her loss pains me too… But it was an ident. Hadley isn’t malicious in nature. Remember, she saved my life. Please, reconsider how you’re treating her. Promise me, Eric, promise me…”


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