?Chapter 858:


    Hadley’sughter rang out as she stooped to scoop Joy into her arms. “Mommy!” Joy pouted, her little face clouded with emotion. “Am I not well-behaved? Does Mommy like Tyler more?” Where was thating from?


    Hadley and the young woman shared a look and erupted intoughter. Hadley leaned in to whisper in her daughter’s ear, “You’re my favorite, you know that, right?”


    “I know!”


    Joy’s face lit up with a smile as she nestled closer to her mother. “Mommy is my favorite too!”


    Across the street, Eric sat frozen in his car, eyes wide with disbelief.


    He stared at Hadley and Joy, each wearing a Minnie Mouse hair clip. One was perched neatly on the back of Hadley’s head, and the other was clipped above the little girl’s ear.


    One for each of them.


    Eric’s breath hitched. His grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white. It was as if it might snap under the pressure.


    As the mother and daughter strolled farther down the sidewalk, Eric opened the car door and stepped out. He followed at a distance, making sure not to make a sound.


    As he drew closer, their voices floated back to him.


    “Let’s go home, baby.”


    “Mommy, the strawberry milkshake was super yummy and sweet!”


    “Yes. Just like you, my sweet Joy.”


    Their voices were soft—just a gentle exchange between mother and daughter.


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    But to Eric, each wordnded like a meteor, carving deep craters into his chest. Every phrase struck hard, leaving behind a hollow ache. Unaware they were being followed, the duo walked into their apartment building.


    Eric stopped at the entrance. His thoughts were a mess. His heart pounded hard against his ribs, loud enough that he could hear it in his ears. Hadley… Joy…


    Eric reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it with trembling fingers. The first drag hit deep, the smoke heavy in his lungs. He exhaled through his nose, and the haze curled around his face. The burnt nicotine hid the storm brewing behind his eyes.


    Now it made sense. No wonder Hadley’s name hadn’t shown up on the list of people who bought those Minnie Mouse clips. She was wearing the one he had bought for Joy.


    She was Joy’s mother.


    Suddenly, it all came rushing back. Eric remembered the night Hadley had waited in line at Evergrand Mall to get a Minnie Mouse doll. He’d ended up helping her get one.


    And not long after, at the Airport, that same doll was seen in Joy’s arms.


    Moreover, when Hadley had gone to the with the dance troupe for a tour, she’de back earlier than nned after an incident. That same weekend, Joy had also returned from the.


    And when they met at the airport, she had looked up at him with wide, excited eyes and said she could finally be with her mom. Eric chuckled, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.


    It all made sense now.


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