?Chapter 2721:


    Catching the gesture, Megan walked over quickly, a faintly uneasy smile on her face.


    “You’re… already heading out?”


    “Yes,” answered Hadley with a small nod. She hesitated before adding, “Eric’s fine for now. Nothing pressing hase up.”


    “I see.” Megan’s voice was stiff, though relief flickered across her features.


    “That’s… good. Then I…”


    “Would you like to visit him?” asked Hadley, stepping in before she could finish.


    “Just not today.”


    Given how things stood, her own visits were only possible because Cristian was making arrangements. They just couldn’t do the same for Megan.


    “Maybe tomorrow would be better.”


    “No, that’s not necessary!” Megan shook her head quickly, her hands fluttering as if to push the offer away.


    “Honestly, it’s fine. I only came to… make sure he was alright. Just knowing that much is enough for me.”


    A strained smile tugged at her lips.


    “He probably wouldn’t want to see me anyway. He’s already carrying too much. I’d rather not be another burden. I should go now!”


    She spun around and practically ran off.


    Hadley froze for a moment, caught off guard by how fast Megan had left.


    The thought lingered. Was Megan anxious for Eric but too afraid to let it show?


    So be it.


    A quiet sigh slipped from Hadley’s chest. Once everything was over and Eric walked free, she would tell Megan then.


    By the following morning, Hadley was on her way to the police station with Cristian. The schedule for that day was Eric’s interrogation, and he had been brought there under guard. Because she wasn’t permitted to join, Hadley stayed behind in the reception area.


    The building was hushed, as most people were working. Suddenly, the silence shattered when the stairwell filled with loud voices and hurried footsteps.


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    A cardboard box slipped from the stairwell and crashed onto thending, sending books skittering across the floor.


    “Oh my goodness.” A woman hurried down after it.


    “This is bad… Ellis loves all his books.”


    When Hadley looked up, she immediately recognized the woman—July, Ellis’ mother.


    For a moment, she considered turning away, pretending she hadn’t seen.


    But July’s eyes lit up as soon as theynded on her.


    “Hey, it’s you!”


    With no choice, Hadley returned a polite smile.


    “Hello, Mrs. Gomez.”


    “Hello…” July greeted warmly while bending to collect the fallen books.


    Hadley crouched beside her, unwilling to appear detached.


    As she picked them up, she noticed titles on judicialw, forensics, and methods of investigation. They were unmistakably Ellis’.


    Why were these books put in a box instead of on a shelf in his office in the first ce?


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