?Chapter 860:


    Reluctantly, she nodded. “Alright.”


    The area wasn’t busy, so Hadley led Eric to the small dessert shop she and Joy had visited earlier that day.


    They sat across from each other.


    “What would you like to drink?” Eric asked.


    Hadley shook her head. “No, I’m good.” She hadn’te here for drinks.


    Eric didn’t press her. “Two strawberry milkshakes, then. One for you, one for me.”


    Before she could respond, he got up and headed to the counter to ce their order.


    Hadley watched his back, her mind filled with questions. Two strawberry milkshakes?


    Before she could dwell on it, Eric returned with the drinks. He set one down in front of her and kept the other for himself. “Here. Enjoy.”


    “Thank you,” Hadley said with a smile.


    Hadley frowned. Then, she met his gaze and asked, “So, what did you want to say? Can you tell me now?”


    On the other hand, Eric was in no rush. He took a long sip of his milkshake and remarked, “Mmm. So yummy and sweet.”


    Hadley froze. That was exactly what Joy had described her milkshake as earlier. Word for word. Could it really be just a coincidence?


    Eric slowly held the ss between his hands, and a chuckle escaped his lips.


    “I know this little girl named Joy. She loves strawberries. Strawberry milkshakes, strawberry candies, you name it. And she’s a big fan of Minnie Mouse.” He nced at Hadley, then chuckled. “You know, the mouse with the big red bow? Joy has a Minnie doll almost her size. And she wears a pair of matching Minnie hair clips…”


    Hadley stared at him, her hands clenching tightly in herp. Her heart pounded, and blood roared in her ears.


    Your favorite tales live on g?lnσνe??s


    She understood now.


    He knew everything.


    But how? Where had she slipped? What had she said or done to reveal it? She’d been careful.


    And yet, here he was, catching her off guard.


    After his cryptic remarks, Eric’s smile slowly faded, and his eyes lingered on Hadley.


    Then, he spoke softly, almost carefully. “Strangely enough, I just saw her. I saw Joy with her mom.” Hadley went still.


    So that was it. He had seen them.


    “Hadley…” Eric sat up straight and leaned forward. He fixed his gaze on her like he was trying to see through her. “I saw you with Joy. I heard her call you Mommy.”


    A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he dered, “Joy is your daughter.”


    There it was. All of itid bare.


    Hadley’s chest tightened. But she didn’t deny it. Instead, she gave a faint,posed smile and nodded. “Since you saw us… yes. Joy is my daughter.”


    The truth was finally out.


    Joy, three, was her daughter.


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