?Chapter 1159:


    Her fingers stiffened around the phone. “I can’t reach him.” This wasn’t looking good.


    Eric’s brow furrowed as he tried to calm her down. “It’s possible his phone just died. Don’t panic over nothing.”


    After a brief pause, he asked, “Do you have any contact details for the Jenkins family?”


    “The Jenkins family?”


    “Yeah.”


    Eric nodded slowly. “At this time of night, where else could Brady be? Try calling them. They might have some answers.”


    “I’ll reach out to Cade!” Hadley said quickly, unlocking her phone and dialing his number.


    The phone rang a few times before Cade answered, his voice carrying a hint of surprise. “Hadley? Is that really you?”


    Hadley didn’t waste time with pleasantries. She jumped right in. “Is Brady home?”


    “Brady?” Cade’s voice shook slightly, confusion clear in his tone. “Wasn’t he at the hospital?”


    Cade knew about Brady’s decision to donate bone marrow to Joy. He also knew Noreen didn’t support it.


    As for his own opinion, he had stayed out of the debate. But still, Brady had followed through and gone to the hospital, hadn’t he? “What’s going on, Hadley?”


    “Hadley, let me handle this,” Eric said, gently taking the phone from her. His tone was calm yet resolute. “Professor Jenkins, Brady isn’t at the hospital, and we can’t reach him by phone. If he’s not at home, do you have any idea where he could be?”


    “Wait…” Cade’s mind went nk. “Brady’s missing?”


    “Yes, we haven’t been able to get in touch with him.”


    “What’s happening? Who’s missing?” Before Eric could answer, a sharp voice cut through the conversation—Noreen’s voice, unmistakable and filled with concern.


    Cade quickly filled her in, his voice strained. “Brady’s gone. He’s not at the hospital…”


    Every story starts at galn   ovels ;


    “Are you serious?!” Noreen’s anger red, her voice dripping with venom. “Hadley! You’re nothing but trouble! If anything happens to Brady, I won’t forgive you!”


    “Professor Jenkins,” Eric cut her off sharply, his tone frigid and resolute, unwilling to engage in her rant. “If you hear anything about Brady, please let Hadley know right away.”


    Without giving him a chance to reply, he hung up the phone. His eyes met Hadley’s, filled with worry and disappointment. “He’s not home… Where could he have gone?”


    Hadley’s heart dropped, and herplexion instantly drained of color. Eric’s gaze softened as he noticed her paling face. Noreen’s harsh words toward Hadley from the other day echoed in his mind again, a sharp stab of sympathy striking him. He gently took her hand, his touch firm but soothing.


    “Don’t let it consume you,” he said, guiding her to sit. His eyes lingered briefly on the cinnabar bracelet on her wrist, and a knot of bitterness tightened in his throat. “Right now, the only thing that matters is finding Brady.”


    “I get it.” Hadley nodded, doing her best topose herself. She slowly pulled her hand from his, her movements deliberate.


    Eric’s hand dropped to his side, his expression darkening. He stood, then turned to the nurse. “This floor has security cameras, right? We need to review the footage.”


    “We need to get security involved,” the nurse said, her voice steady.


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