?Chapter 921:


    “Did you?” Hadley responded with a warm smile. “Well, I’m here now, and I missed you so much too.”


    “Mommy.” Joy looked up with hopeful eyes. “Mr. Flynn didn’te. He promised but he didn’t show up. He’s a bad guy!”


    Hearing this, Hadley felt a pang in her heart…


    “No, sweetheart.” Hadley settled onto the couch with Joy cradled in her arms and soothed her gently. “He was herest night. You were sleeping so deeply, he didn’t want to disturb you.”


    “Yes,” Elissa added. “That’s true.”


    “Oh, really?” Joy’s face fell slightly. “I missed it because I fell asleep…”


    To lift her daughter’s spirits, Hadley grabbed her phone and showed her a video from the previous night. “Look, Joy. Here he is holding youst night, and look, he even set off fireworks just for you.”


    “Wow…” As Joy watched the video, her face lit up with a delightedugh. “Haha! Really! Joy… that’s my name!”


    “Yes.” Hadley patted her daughter’s little head. “He did all this just for you.”


    “Yes!” Joy’s smile widened. Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she snuggled closer into her mother’s embrace. “He likes me!”


    “He really does,” Hadley responded, her voice breaking slightly with emotion.


    At the hospital, Eric’s condition was stable, but he showed no signs of regaining consciousness.


    “Linda.” Ernest nced at Linda and said softly, “You justnded in Srixbyst night. You must be exhausted from your trip. You should go home and rest.”


    “No.” Linda shook her head resolutely.


    “I’ll stay here with you and Eric. We’ve gotten through tough times together since we were children, and this time is no different.”


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    “Listen,” Ernest said, his expression serious and his tone resolute. “Grandma doesn’t know about any of this yet. You should head back to avoid making her suspicious. Stay with her and keep herpany.”


    N’s health had been fragile, and they had chosen not to tell her about the situation yet.


    Perhaps Eric would regain consciousness soon and spare her the worry. It wouldn’t be toote to inform her then.


    “Besides…” Ernest’s gaze drifted to his brother, lying still on the hospital bed. “We can’t predict when Eric will wake up. We can’t both be here all the time. We should take turns.”


    Linda saw the logic in his suggestion and nodded. “I’ll head back for now.”


    “Alright.”


    As she stood to leave, Linda paused and suddenly turned to Ernest. “I rushed back and didn’t get the chance to ask. How have you been?”


    Ernest was caught off guard for a moment.


    The image of Elissa briefly crossed his mind…


    He gave a slight nod. “I’ve been alright. How about you?”


    “That’s good.” Linda managed a weak smile that didn’t quite light up her face. “I’m doing okay too… Even though we broke up, Ernest… we’re still family, aren’t we?”


    “Absolutely.” Ernest nodded promptly, his deep eyes locked on hers. “From the moment I brought you to the Flynn family, you became one of us. Forever.”


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