?Chapter 1327:


    Eric’s shoulders slumped. He looked like a scolded child. Elissa, standing beside Hadley, couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. She gave Hadley’s arm a small tug.


    “I get it. I won’t insist on taking you home,” Eric said, his smile strained and fragile. He looked over at Elissa and added, “But Ernest asked me to make sure you got back safely. If you’d rather someone else drive you, just give Ernest a call. If he says it’s fine, I’ll leave.”


    “What?” Elissa blinked, caught off guard.


    She had absolutely no intention of calling Ernest—not now.


    Tugging on Hadley’s arm again, she leaned in and whispered, “Hadley,e on. Let’s just get in. We’ll sit in the back, stay quiet, and treat it like a cab ride. Please?”


    As she spoke, she gave her arm another tug, gently guiding her toward the car. “I really don’t want to talk to Ernest right now!”


    Hadley gave her a long look, clearly frustrated. What even was this situation?


    Still, with a sigh, she gave in and allowed herself to be pulled along.


    Eric’s mouth twitched, the barest hint of a smile appearing as a flicker of relief passed through his eyes.


    A few paces behind, Ernest observed quietly as Hadley and Elissa slipped into Eric’s Bentley. His tense posture slowly softened, his expression unwinding.


    Linda turned to face him, her voice dripping with insight. “You’re really concerned about Elissa, aren’t you?”


    Then, as if a thought had struck her, she stiffened, her eyes widening as she blurted out, “Ernest, don’t tell me you think I’m to me for what happened to N?”


    Ernest’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel, his knuckles going pale as he kept his gaze forward. He shook his head, his voice low but firm. “No. The root of the problem lies with me…”


    “I’m d you finally admit it!”


    Linda interrupted with a bitterugh, cold and cutting.


    “I’ve got no guilt here! If anyone’s to me, it’s the two of you. One of you cheated in a marriage, the other seduced a married woman. I only spoke the truth. How can you possibly ce the me on me?”


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    Ernest’s breath hitched as he froze, staring into the rearview mirror at Linda’s reflection. In that moment, she felt like a stranger to him.


    The car made its way down Milnd Road,ing to a stop in front of the old apartmentplex.


    Elissa stepped out first, careful as shended on the uneven pavement. Hadley reached for the handle, just about to follow when—


    “Wait, Hadley!” Eric rushed to her door, stopping her. “There’s water all over the ce!” He wasn’t exaggerating.


    The rain in Srixby hadn’t let up for days, and this older part of the town—known for its patchy maintenance—was riddled with potholes now brimming with dirty rainwater.


    Hadley paused, considering the other door, but Eric had already stepped into the mess and crossed over. Without warning, he scooped her up in his arms.<fn80ce> Follow current nov?ls on Find★Novel</fn80ce>


    “Eric!” Hadley gasped, caughtpletely off guard. “Put me down!” Before she could finish the protest, he had already carried her past the puddles and gently set her down on a dry patch of ground.


    His gaze was open, his voice steady. “I only carried you so you wouldn’t have to step in the puddle.”


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