?Chapter 1001:


    Eric nodded. “Yes.”


    “You didn’t know?” The nurse looked surprised. “She’s already discharged.”


    “Discharged?” Eric stiffened. “When?”


    “Just now,” the nurse replied, checking her watch. “Not even ten minutes ago.”


    Eric’s face tightened. She was still recovering. Leaving like this… it was reckless.


    Eric’s expression turned frosty, his brows knitting tightly.


    “You just let her leave on her own? What if something happened? Is the hospital ready to take responsibility? Can you even afford that?”


    “N-NO, she didn’t leave alone!” The nurse quickly waved her hands, flustered. “A man named Denver came to pick her up!”


    Eric froze. Denver?


    Denver parked outside Hadley’s building on Milnd Road. He got out with her, visibly uneasy.


    “I’ll wait here. Just text me when you’re safely inside, then I’ll head out.”


    She had just been discharged—better to be cautious.


    Hadley smiled. “Alright.”


    Just as she turned toward the entrance, a familiar voice rang out.


    “Mommy!”


    Hadley turned in surprise and saw Joy wriggle free from Melba’s arms, dashing forward on chubby legs.


    “Mommy, Mommy! It is you! Melba said no, but I knew it! I have sharp eyes!”


    “Joy!” Hadley bent down, arms wide open.


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    But to her astonishment, Joy darted past and wrapped her arms around Denver’s leg.


    “Mommy, hug!”


    Startled, Hadley burst outughing. “Joy?”


    Melba caught up, grinning. “Didn’t you just say your eyesight was sharp? Then why are you hugging the wrong person?”


    Joy nced up, confused by her mother’sck of response. She looked into Denver’s face and blinked in confusion.


    “Not Mommy!” she eximed.


    Still, the little one clung to Denver’s leg like a determined ko.


    Denver stood there, stiff as a board, terrified that any wrong move might send the toddler toppling over. It was the first time a child had hugged him. He looked down at her, stunned. So this was Hadley’s daughter.


    “H-Hello, Joy,” he said, attempting a smile.


    “Hello!” the little girl chirped, undeterred.


    Denver swallowed hard. “Be careful. You might fall… want me to pick you up?”


    Joy nodded enthusiastically. “Okay!”


    He bent down and carefully lifted her, surprised by how light and warm she was. She felt soft and squishy in his arms, like a living plush toy. Hadley watched him, stiflingughter. “Joy,e here. Mommy’s arms are open now.”


    “Mommy!”


    Joy wriggled and leapt into her mother’s embrace without hesitation.


    Denver let out a long, audible sigh—he had been holding his breath the whole time. Never had he been so anxious in his life.


    Hadley smiled and looked down at her daughter. “Joy, this is Mommy’s friend. His name is Denver.”


    “Nice to meet you!”


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