?Chapter 944:


    “Alright,” he said quietly, his lips curving ever so slightly. “I’ll listen to you.”


    She looked up at him, noticing how exhaustion clung to his frame, and her frustration melted into something heavier—worry, helplessness. “If you keep throwing yourself into danger like your life means nothing, I won’t rely on you again. I’ll just take Joy and go back to the.”


    “I won’t dare pull a stunt like that again,” Eric said, his grip tightening around her hand. His eyes, though tired, were clear—like a sky that had just weathered a violent storm. “For Joy’s sake… I’ll take care of myself. I swear it.”


    A small, reluctant chuckle escaped her lips. “Really?” she asked, a skeptical tilt to her tone. “Somehow, I still feel like, if Linda were in trouble, you’d throw yourself headfirst into it all over again.”


    Eric blinked, caught off guard. So, that was what she thought—that he’d been injured because of Linda. No wonder she was so furious.


    Then, unexpectedly, he let out a breathyugh.


    Hadley narrowed her eyes. “What’s so funny?”


    “You’re jealous,” he whispered, leaning in with a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, barely able to contain his amusement.


    Hadley stared at him,pletely taken aback. How did hee to that conclusion?


    “You thought I got hurt because of Linda, and that’s why you were angry. That’s why you didn’te see me for three whole days… right?” His voice softened at the end, a subtle trace of grievance seeping through.


    His lips drew into a tight line as he added, “You misunderstood. I didn’t get injured because of her. Actually, she got dragged into it because of me.” Then, with the faintest smile, he added, “But if that misunderstanding made you jealous… I can live with that. Worth it, even.”


    Hadley blinked. Linda was dragged into it because of him? That part still didn’t make sense. But the way he said it—half sincere, half teasing—made her want tough.


    Her eyes narrowed with a yful glint. “Eric… your brain must really be damaged. You need immediate treatment.” Hallucinations now? Thinking she was jealous?


    I@te$t ￠#@pter$ In g@!novel$.c0m


    She gave an amused scoff. “Jealous? Do I look like I have time for that kind of nonsense?”


    “You do,” Eric replied without missing a beat, nodding with infuriating confidence.


    Before she could fire back, he suddenly tightened his hold on her hand and leaned in. His voice dropped, husky and deliberate. “Don’t say anything. Call it a side effect of the head injury if you want. Actually—” He took her hand and gently ced it against his chest. His heart thudded beneath her palm—fast, steady, real. “I—it’s not just my brain. My heart’s got problems too.”


    Hadley froze, caughtpletely off guard.


    “You feel that?” Eric whispered, his eyes never leaving hers. Her breath caught in her throat.


    “Hadley… I’m lovesick. Completely, hopelessly in love with you.”


    Inside the hospital room, N was livid.


    She and Ernest had arrived a littlete, but just in time to hear the news—Eric had woken up. Their joy was short-lived, though. The moment they arrived, they were hit with another shock—he was missing.


    “A man who’s been in aa for a week wakes up, and you let him yank out his IV and run off? What were you thinking?”


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