?Chapter 966:


    Her sharpebacknded squarely, cutting through the tension. Eric, riled up, snapped back, “You’re not the same as Hadley. Why would I snap at the woman I care about, huh?”


    “What?” N blinked, caught off guard, but then let out an exasperated chuckle. “Do you mean to say you don’t care about me? Look at you, all grown up and cheeky! Always trying to rile me up.”


    “You started it!” Eric countered.


    Their lighthearted sparring seemed to buoy N’s mood significantly. Ernest observed in silence, a quiet gratitude swelling within him for Eric’s presence. With his own tendency toward restraint, it was Eric who’d kept their home vibrant and alive after their parents’ passing, making it feel whole.


    N still needed to undergo two more tests. As she was wheeled into the examination room, Ernest lingered outside while Eric grabbed the forms to line up for the next.


    Before heading off, Eric sped Hadley’s hand. “Ernest can handle Grandma here. Come with me to wait in line.” Hadley found herself tugged along.


    When they reached the other exam room, she slipped her hand free.


    “Let go.”


    “What’s that?” Eric nced down at her. “nning another escape?”


    Hadley sighed, at a loss. “Aren’t you supposed to give the doctor those papers? Or are you going to clutch my hand through that too?”


    Eric grinned, unrepentant. “Why not? Think they’ll get envious?”


    “Eric!” Hadley’s brows knit in protest. “I’m not as shameless as you!”


    He still wouldn’t budge. “What if you bolt the second I let go?”


    Fresh chapters live gαlnσν????s


    “I won’t,” she said, exasperated. “If I were leaving, I’d at least wait for N’s results.”


    Her reasoning sounded solid. Eric knew N was probably the only one in his family Hadley truly held dear.


    After a brief pause, he loosened his grip. “I’ll head in. Wait here.”


    He added, “When her results are in, I’ll drive you home. We can talk about us on the way.”


    He stepped into the room. The moment he did, Hadley turned and walked off…


    Eric was inside for less than thirty seconds, but when he emerged, Hadley had vanished.


    “Hadley?”


    He scanned the hall, a hollow pang settling in his chest. She’d outmaneuvered him… She was gone! He pulled out his phone and dialed her.


    It rang, but no answer came.


    “Hadley…” Eric muttered, massaging his temple. “Pick up, damn it.” It waste, and his main concern was her safety—especially after that unsettling run-in she’d once had with a shady cab driver.


    “Eric?” Linda appeared from around a corner, peering about. “Why are you by yourself? Where’s Hadley?” Weren’t they just together?


    She quickly pieced it together, a wry smirk tugging at her lips. “She took off? You didn’t hold her back?”


    Eric gripped his phone, his face clouding over. “I stepped in to drop off the forms.”


    “Oh,” Linda said with a knowing nod. “And she slipped away.” Sheughed lightly. “No big deal—she couldn’t do much for N’s tests anyway.”


    Eric didn’t reply, instead shifting gears. “What brings you here? Is Grandma done with her check-up over there?”


    .


    .


    .