?Chapter 2764:


    Both men could handle their drinks, yet the sheer amount Eric had consumed spoke volumes.


    “And another thing,” Ernest added, frustrated.


    “Why drag me here? Why not call Hadley instead?”


    Surely, if Hadley even just showed up, Eric would never dare spiral this far.


    “Mr. Flynn,” Xander answered hesitantly, his tone awkward.


    “The reason he’s like this… is because of Miss Pearson.”


    The exnation left Ernest staring nkly.


    In a low voice, Xander added, “It seems… she is with Mr. Gomez.”


    That revtion struck Ernest like a blow. For a moment, he was stunned, but then the pieces began to fit.


    Of course. He recalled earlier moments when Ellis and Hadley’s closeness had felt suspicious.


    Now the truth was out—Hadley and Ellis were together.


    “There was nothing else I could do,” Xander said.


    “Mr. Scott wouldn’t listen to reason, so I had no choice but to reach out to you.”


    “I understand.” Ernest gave a short nod, his eyes lingering on Eric’s drunken, copsed figure.


    Without hesitation, Ernest crouched, seized Eric by the arm, and hauled him upright.


    “Stand up!”


    “Who’s touching me? Let go!” Eric snapped, his bloodshot eyes zing. Even through the haze of liquor, he managed to recognize the man before him.


    “Ernest…”


    A derisive snort came from Ernest.


    “Go back home.”


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    “Home?” Eric’s face flushed as tears welled up, and he shook his head like a lost child.


    “I can’t! Ernest, I don’t have a ce that I can call home anymore!”


    He clutched Ernest’s shirt desperately, voice cracking.


    “Hadley… she likes someone else! I have no home… nowhere!”


    Ernest froze, caught between frustration and concern, staring at him in disbelief.


    Despite his anger, a pang of sympathy crept in, softening his heart.


    Ernest grabbed a cup from the table, unsure if it held water or liquor, and sshed it across Eric’s face.


    “What are you doing?!” Eric gasped, shock sharpening his senses instantly.


    Dragging a hand across his dripping face, he blinked.


    “Ernest?”


    A cold sneer tugged at Ernest’s mouth.


    “This is all you’ve got? Crying like a fool over trouble? Did I ever teach you to be this pathetic?”


    Eric muttered softly, “Ernest… I’m hurting.”


    “Pain won’t fix anything!” Ernest shot back, his brow furrowing.


    “Shake off that coward’s spirit! Right now, you’re even weaker than Hadley ever was! Remember when you were with Megan? Hadley was managing just fine on her own, and you were nearly ready to marry Megan!”


    The words hit Eric like a jolt of electricity, his pupils widening, color draining from his face.


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