?Chapter 1224:


    “Mommy…” Joy’s voice called from the inner room.


    Eric nced that way. “She’s up. Go to her. I’ll take care of this.”


    “Okay,” Hadley said, rising. She couldn’t avoid it anymore.


    “Smile for her,” Eric said gently. “Kids notice everything. Be strong—for her.”


    “I know,” Hadley nodded, took a breath, and went to the inner room. After helping Joy freshen up and bringing her out for breakfast, Hadley noticed Eric was already gone.


    His words echoed in her mind. She squared her shoulders, steeling herself.


    “Time for breakfast, Joy. Your favorite pancakes today.”


    “Yay! I want lots!” Joy beamed.


    The bacsh came quickly.


    That morning, the nurse didn’t bring the medicine at the usual time.


    Frowning, Hadley got up to check.


    Just as she opened the door, she saw the nurse entering the suite. The woman didn’t notice Hadley and instead greeted the caregiver tidying up in the outer room.


    “Here to deliver the meds?” the caregiver asked.


    “Yeah.”


    The caregiver then lowered her voice. “Hey… did you see the news? Do you think that’s real?”


    “There are photos. Looks real enough to me.”


    “What?!” the caregiver gasped. “She has a kid and still behaves like that?”


    “Who cares if she has a kid? Heard she’s divorced. Her life’s a total wreck.”


    “Yeah, yeah! I heard that Gnt ce is full of rich people ying games. Mistresses, escorts—it’s all the same.”


    Hadley froze, ice flooding her veins.


    She stormed forward, her voice sharp. “What did you just say?”


    Both women jumped, color draining from their faces.


    “M-Miss Pearson…”


    Hadley’s face was ghost-white, lips trembling. “Is this how hospital staff behave? Gossiping about patients right in their rooms?”


    “Miss Pearson…”


    “Get out!” Hadley pointed to the door, eyes zing. “Now!”


    She could live with public scorn—but not in Joy’s ward.


    If Joy overheard that, how could she ever exin it?


    “Well… This is Joy’s medicine,” the nurse mumbled, setting it down.


    They exchanged nces and quickly fled.


    Hadley closed her eyes, pressing a hand to her forehead, her thoughts in disarray.


    Then her phone buzzed in her pocket. Elvin.


    Her heart clenched. Dreading the conversation, she answered. “Hello, Mr. Webster…”


    “Hadley!” His voice was tight with worry. “What’s going on? I saw the trending news—”


    He already knew about her dancing at Gnt before, and he had always trusted her integrity.


    “This has to be a misunderstanding. Who’s the guy in the photos? You need to clear this up, Hadley.”


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