?Chapter 2753:


    So be it—he would wait.


    Six months had already slipped by; a little more patience wouldn’t make a difference.


    “Rest now, my precious ones.”


    Eric drew the worn nket snugly over their shoulders. He told himself in the quiet of his mind that hope had not yet left him.


    After all, Hadley had made it clear. She trusted him. Surely, she no longer carried me toward him.


    And through all of this turmoil, he had witnessed how much concern and tenderness she still held.


    “Hadley.” His eyes lingered on the calm expressions of Joy and Hadley, and a faint smile touched his lips.


    “The time hase for us to be whole again.”


    By the time morning came, Hadley stirred to find Joy still fast asleep beside her, while Eric was nowhere in sight.


    At what hour had he slipped away?


    Her sleep had been far too deep for her to notice.


    With careful steps, she eased herself out of bed and went back to her own room to shower and dress.


    Once she finished a slow breakfast, she made her way out. Her dubbing assignments weren’tplete yet, and today meant another visit to the studio.


    Looking over the schedule Elvin had shared, she realized the day would be packed, though in just two more days the work would be finished.


    After hours of working and when her break finally came, her phone lit up with a new message. It was from Eric.


    “Dinner tonight? Just us, and a nice restaurant.”


    A faint crease formed between Hadley’s brows.


    She understood the reason behind his invitation. He wanted to speak openly, and the house had offered little privacy.


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    The image of his face drifted through her thoughts.


    Her eyelids drifted shut as she wrestled with how she ought to answer.


    Just then, a new message appeared—this one from Ellis.


    “I told myself I’d wait for you to reach out, but I can’t hold it in anymore. Could we meet tonight?”


    Before she even finished reading it, another message followed.


    “If tonight doesn’t work, I don’t mind waiting a bit longer.”


    His words carried an edge of timidity, almost as if he feared upsetting her.


    Pressing her lips together, Hadley reached for her phone.


    She chose to answer Eric first.


    “Not tonight. I’ll be workingte.”


    After that, she drafted her reply to Ellis.


    “Okay. Let’s meet.”


    There were things she had to say, and this conversation could no longer be dyed.


    At Scott Group.


    Eric read Hadley’s reply and quietly ced his phone face down on the desk.


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