?Chapter 999:


    His voice was soft, gentle, as if he were afraid that a louder tone might break her.


    Hadley looked him in the eye and began slowly, “I wanted to talk about Joy… and the cryopreservation—have you thought it through?” Eric’s expression darkened. “Didn’t we agree to wait until the timees?”


    “I can wait,” she said gently, not pushing. “But you have to promise me that when that timees, you’ll cooperate.”


    “Why wouldn’t I?” Eric’s brows drew together. “Joy’s my daughter too, and I care about her.”


    Hadley nodded. “Then I’ll trust you to keep your word.” A faint smile touched her lips.


    “When the time is right, I’ll reach out. If you want to see Joy before that, talk to Melba.”


    “Hadley?!” Eric’s chest tightened, his nerves stretched thin. “Are you saying… you don’t want to see me again?”


    “Yes.” She touched her throat and nodded, her expression unreadable. “Unless absolutely necessary, I’d rather not.”


    “Hadley!” Eric’s voice sharpened, frustrationced beneath the surface.


    It was all Ferris’s doing—his trap had started this.


    “Aboutst night—”


    “I know,” she interrupted softly, hershes trembling. “There’s no need to exin. Linda and I were both takenst night.”


    Her voice was clear,posed—neither angry nor sorrowful. “And I know you chose to go to her.”


    “That’s not true!” Eric shot to his feet, breathing hard, eyes burning.


    “Hadley, it’s not like that!”


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    “Isn’t it?” She remained perfectly calm. “Don’t bother denying it. The truth has a way of surfacing. I could speak to Linda directly, you know. Shall I?”


    She tilted her head, eyebrow arched in challenge. “Want to hear it from her mouth?”


    Eric was silent, unable to answer—because he knew if Hadley confronted Linda, everything would unravel. “Hadley.” His voice faltered. “I’m sorry.”


    “I ept your apology,” she said quietly, a shadow of a smile appearing. “After all, it was because of you that I was put in danger.” She looked away briefly, and then added, “Still, it’s only natural to protect the one you truly care about. That’s just human nature.”


    “Hadley…”


    Eric dropped to his knees beside her bed, clutching her hands like she might vanish if he let go.


    He was terrified. This time felt different—final. She wasn’t just angry. She was done.


    Looking up at her, eyes red and pleading, he whispered, “Please… don’t do this. Don’t leave me.”


    Hadley studied him.


    This man—so proud, alwaysposed—was breaking apart before her eyes right now.


    “You’re a mystery to me,” she said, shaking her head. “You have no feelings for me at all, yet you act like you’re heartbroken. How do you do that?”


    She then let out a quietugh. “It’s honestly impressive. So believable. Almost touching.”


    Her words pierced deeper than any de.


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