?Chapter 617:


    “I lost him! I really did!” Soren defended himself.


    “Idiot!”


    Eric marched through the dust towards them, his eyes finding Hadley instantly. Seeing her in such a state, his face darkened with intense anger.


    “Hadley!”


    He quickly removed his jacket and covered her with it.


    Then, ring at his stunned subordinate, his voice cut through the tension. “Stop staring! Do you still want your eyes?”


    “Huh?” Eric’s subordinate quickly averted his eyes while nervously exining, “Mr. Flynn, I assure you—I saw nothing!”


    Eric snapped, demanding, “Is there a nket in the car?”


    “Uh? Oh yes, right away!”


    Scrambling, he dashed to retrieve a nket.


    Eric knelt down, swiftly unbinding Hadley’s wrists and ankles. He lifted her gently, carefully brushing away the hair from her face.


    “I’m so sorry for arrivingte.”


    Hadley, supported in his arms, was visibly suffering, herplexion turning pale as beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead.


    “What’s the matter?” Startled by her difort, Eric urgently asked, “Are you hurt? Where did they hurt you?”


    “My… my shoulder.” Her voice was faint, barely a whisper as she tried to findfort leaning against him.


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    “Oh no, I’m so sorry!”


    Eric adjusted his hold on her, trying to ease her pain, but even the smallest shift seemed to cause her more distress.


    “Does that hurt?” Panic-stricken, he blurted out, “I’m so sorry. I’ll try to be more careful.”


    By the time Eric had repositioned her, his shirt was drenched in sweat.


    “Does this feel any better?” Gently, he said, “Hold on. We’re going to the hospital soon.”


    Hadley managed a nod, overwhelmed by pain.


    She was dazed, not truly believing he would find her, much less rescue her.


    Faintly, she tried to raise her hand toward Eric.


    “What do you need?” He quickly caught her hand. “Tell me.”


    She weakly shook her head, gesturing towards his forehead.


    “You’re bleeding…”


    Eric halted, feeling his forehead. It was a minor cut from when he’d rammed the door with the car.


    He downyed his injury with a smile. “It’s just a scratch, nothing serious.”


    Hadley remained silent, her emotions churning.


    In the meantime, Astrid and Soren, realizing the tables had turned, quietly stood and attempted to sneak away.


    At that moment, the subordinate arrived with the nket, spotting the pair’s escape.


    “They’re getting away!” He turned to Eric, rmed. “Mr. Flynn! Should we go after them?”


    But it was toote.


    The two were already speeding away from the warehouse in their car. They had just one vehicle, and Hadley urgently needed medical attention.


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