?Chapter 2235:


    The bodyguards blocked her path, uncertain whether to let her through. Hadley’s gaze swept over Eric, confusion clouding her expression. “Why are you here so early? I haven’t finished filming yet…”


    Her eyes shifted to Chelsey, who was copsed on the floor. “Chelsey…?”


    Turning back to Eric, she reached for his arm. “Tell me what’s happening.”


    “Let me exin.”


    “What’s going on…”


    Eric ced a reassuring arm around her and gently guided her into the room. He decided there was no point in hiding the truth—Hadley deserved answers, and she needed to know her illness wasn’t random.


    “You’ve been getting sick because Chelsey has been poisoning you behind your back.” Eric’s voice was steady as he nced at Chelsey. “She’s been slipping the toxin into your coffee.”


    Hadley stood frozen, unable to process what she had just heard.


    Her eyes shifted to Chelsey, her voice trembling. “Why would you do this?”


    “Hadley!” Chelsey suddenly broke down, tears spilling over her cheeks. “I’m so sorry! I never meant to hurt you!”


    Shock coursed through Hadley’s entire being.


    The revtion struck her like a physical blow—her illness stemmed from Chelsey’s actions? The girl she had trusted had deliberately poisoned her?


    “You… are you telling me the truth?”


    Chelsey was crying uncontrobly, copsing to the floor in remorse. “I’m the monster here, Hadley… You showed me nothing but kindness, and I repaid you with treachery!”


    “Look at her…” Hadley’s mind still rejected the impossible truth. How could someone so fragile and pure-heartedmit such a devastating betrayal? Her fingers dug desperately into Eric’s sleeve. “Please tell me this is all some terrible misunderstanding.”


    Denial consumed her thoughts—she had opened her heart to Chelsey, treated her like family.


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    “Hadley.” Eric read the anguish written across her features. His expression hardened as he shook his head grimly. “Her innocence is nothing but an borate mask. Every word she’s spoken has been a calcted lie.”


    His voice grew colder with each revtion. “No dying mother exists—she never had one to begin with. But she does have a father, and he’s a gambling addict who’s buried the family in crushing debt.”


    Chelsey’s hands flew to her face, shame preventing her from meeting Hadley’s devastated gaze.


    The final pieces of the horrific puzzle clicked into ce for Hadley.


    Emptiness carved itself into her chest as she whispered brokenly, “This is what’s real? This is who you are?”


    Tears streamed down Chelsey’s cheeks like a torrential downpour, her voice fracturing with each word. “Yes… Every bit of it was me… I did this to you… Forgive me, Hadley. Please forgive me.”


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