?Chapter 1018:


    Elissa opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat. “But… but…”


    It was too much. She couldn’t keep up with any of it.


    “Elissa…” Ernest rose and ced a hand gently on her shoulder. “Just listen to me. I want to be with you. Let me take care of you for the rest of your life, alright?”


    Elissa stood frozen, speechless. The confession hit her like a wave she hadn’t braced for. She couldn’t move, her face alternately flushed and pale.


    Was something wrong with her?


    At 8 p.m., Eric finished reading Joy a bedtime story and quietly closed the door after she drifted off to sleep.


    “Perfect timing.” Hadley handed him his phone. “You’ve got a call.”


    Eric took it and nced at the screen. It was the hospital. “This is Eric.” As he listened to the person on the other end, his face grew more and more serious.


    “Alright, I understand… I’ll be right there.” Eric ended the call and turned to Hadley.


    “What?” Hadley asked, her expression steady. “Why are you looking at me like that?”


    “Hadley…” Eric paused and then reached for her hand. “I need to go to the hospital. Come with me.”


    “Why would I?”


    “It’s Linda… She’s not doing well…”


    A faint twitch pulled at Hadley’s temple, but she nodded. “Oh. Then what are you waiting for? Go already.”


    “I’m going.” Eric grabbed her hand and started for the door. “Come with me.”


    “Wait…” Hadley pulled her hand back andughed bitterly. “Go by yourself. Why should Ie with you?”


    Eric looked down at her. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. There’s nothing going on between me and her.”


    “Ha-ha.” Hadley let out a humorlessugh. “Yeah, right. Whatever you say.”


    “Hadley!” Eric raised his voice in frustration. “Come with me. Just see it for yourself, and then maybe you’ll finally believe me.”


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    “Don’t be ridiculous.” Hadley shot back, her tone cold and even. “No matter what you show me, I’ll never believe you. But don’t worry. I won’t make a scene.”


    “You don’t believe me, but you already n not to make a scene?” Eric stared at her, confused. “How does that make any sense?”


    “It doesn’t. I never chose to be with you. You forced me into this rtionship. So, whoever you truly want to be with, or however many women you keep around—I…”


    “Don’t care. Do what makes you happy.”


    “Hadley!” Eric grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her slightly off the floor in his frustration. “If I ever drop dead, it’ll be because you drove me there! Now,e on!”


    At the hospital, a cry of pain rang out from the room.


    “AHHH!”


    “Linda!” Eric leaned over her and held her shoulders to stop her from thrashing. “Calm down! You’re going to hurt yourself!”


    Linda turned her tear-streaked face toward him. Her eyes were bloodshot, swollen from crying.


    With tears rolling down her cheeks, she bitterly asked, “Why are you so worried I’ll hurt myself? I can’t even sit up anymore. And you think I have the strength to hurt myself?”


    Upon hearing this, Eric’s face tensed, his brows drawn low.


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