?Chapter 2766:


    Ernest ate steadily, hisposed face revealing little as his gaze lingered on Eric.


    Then, without warning, he spoke.


    “Hadley and Ellis—this might notst.”


    Eric’s head shot up.


    “W-what do you mean?”


    Ernest, spreading jam over his toast, didn’t look up.


    “Do you remember Denver?”


    Eric stiffened. How could he not?


    Denver had once been Hadley’s beloved. She had been truly fond of him.


    If not for Denver’s mother’s interference—and Eric’s own meddling, taking advantage of the chaos—Hadley and Denver might have ended up together long ago.


    And none of what followed between Eric and Hadley would have ever happened.


    “Why mention him now?” Eric’s grip tightened around his cup, his voice low and heavy.


    Because a thought had suddenly struck him.


    Back then, it had been Denver. Now, it was Ellis. After each breakup, Hadley had always found a way to move on. It seemed she had never truly held deep feelings for him.


    All along, it had been Eric forcing his presence into her life. Once that pressure lifted, she didn’t hesitate to choose someone else—someone she wanted.


    “What’s going on in that head of yours?” Ernest, watching Eric’s grim expression, couldn’t guess exactly but knew the thoughts weren’t pleasant. He tapped the table lightly.


    “Think about what’s important.”


    Eric said nothing.


    “Consider this,” Ernest went on, “if the Moran family couldn’t ept her past, do you think the Gomez family would?”


    ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ??????????ν??????﹒?????


    A sharp reality.


    Compared to the Morans, the Gomez family held even greater social influence.


    “Ellis, like Denver, is single—never married, no history of rtionships.”


    Young, sessful, with a career at its peak.


    The Gomez family wasrge, with many heirs. Ellis had three older brothers, yet he had taken a different path from all of them—clearly groomed for something more significant. Would such a carefully nurtured son be allowed to marry Hadley—a divorcee with a child from her previous marriage?


    Ernest shook his head slightly, his tone grim.


    “The Gomez family won’t make it easy. In the end, Hadley may only end up hurt again.”


    “How dare he!” Eric burst out.


    “Is Hadley not worthy of him?”


    Ernest blinked, momentarily startled.


    “Hadley is remarkable, but let’s be real—she’s been married before and has a child, and most people from the upper ss still mind that, even these days. If the Moran family hesitated, why wouldn’t the Gomez family? Anyway…” He changed his tone.


    “You’re missing the point.”


    He tapped the table once more.


    .


    .


    .