?Chapter 485:


    Noticing her stare, Eric rubbed his face, looking a little self-conscious. “Do I have something on my face?”


    “No.” She shook her head, a quietugh slipping out. “I’m just… a little touched.”


    “Touched?”


    Eric caught on right away. He lowered his head, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear before resting his forehead against hers. “I was a jerk before. But from now on, I’ll treat you right. Okay?”


    His words hit deep.


    Hadley blinked, dazed.


    Then, out of nowhere, she shoved him back, eyes wide with excitement. “Look! The sun! It’sing up!”


    At the horizon, where the sea kissed the sky, golden light stretched outward, painting the world in warmth. The sun, bold and brilliant, began its slow ascent.


    Just like that, Hadley was wide awake.


    The sunlight danced in her eyes, catching on tiny flecks of gold.


    “It’s beautiful, right?”


    Hadley stared at the sunrise, lost in its glow—while Eric only looked at her.


    “It is.” She nodded, her focus unwavering. And in that moment, she finally understood the quiet romance of watching a sunrise.


    “I knew you’d like it.”


    Reality settled around her as she turned to the person beside her. So this was what he was like when he let someone in.


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    He had nned everything so carefully—waking up early just to watch the sunrise.


    It was something she had never experienced when she was his wife. But today, she finally did.


    Hadley let out a quiet, self-mocking smile, biting into the warm corn before taking a sip of coffee.


    After stepping off the yacht, Eric drove her back to the entrance of Mayfield Road.


    “Get some rest when you get home,” he said.


    “Okay.”


    She waved as his car disappeared down the street. But instead of heading inside, she pulled out her phone, booked a ride, and made her way to the hospital.


    “Dr. Torres.”


    She greeted Joy’s new attending physician—Mathias’ friend, Colden Torres.


    Reaching into her bag, Hadley pulled out a small vial and handed it to him. “Please, help me.”


    Colden hesitated before taking it. “Alright. Leave it to me.”


    Technically, running private tests like this wasn’t allowed. But with Mathias and Colleen pulling strings, he didn’t have much of a choice.


    “This is urgent—please get it to me ASAP,” Hadley urged, her voice steady but pleading.


    “No need to stress.”


    Colden gave her a firm nod. “I’ll send it to theb right away and have them fast-track the results. I’ll update you as soon as they’re in.”


    “Thank you so much, Dr. Torres,” Hadley said, her gratitude running deep. Because of Colden’s help, she got the results that same evening—just after her performance.


    Her phone buzzed with a message from him, an electronic report attached. The medical jargon blurred together, but Colden had already summed it up in simple terms—it wasn’t a match.


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