?Chapter 2778:


    “Joy, Mommy’s heading off to work now. Bye-bye, sweetheart!”


    “Bye-bye, Mommy!” Joy’s plump little fingers wiggled enthusiastically in farewell.


    “Be good for Daddy.” Hadley rose from her chair, directing a wan smile toward Eric.


    “Thank you for managing everything here. I should get going now.”


    “I’ll walk you to the door!” Eric’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood abruptly and trailed behind her.


    When they reached the entrance—


    “This is far enough.” Hadley gestured for him to stop.


    “Go back to Joy now.”


    “Joy…” Eric’s voice turned caustic as he repeated their daughter’s name.


    “Has she be the only safe topic of conversation between us?”


    The response caught in her throat like a stone. Yet deep down, she knew he had spoken the painful truth.


    “Fine then!” Eric’s jaw clenched with barely contained frustration.


    “Then Joy it is! I’ll be the father she deserves—for her sake alone! We don’t have to separate. Let’s give Joy an intact family. She deserves a childhood with both parents present—”


    “Stop.” Hadley’s voice cut through his desperate plea with quiet firmness.


    “Please, just stop.”


    A mncholy smile ghosted across her lips.


    “I spoke all the words that needed saying that day… I’ve released my anger toward you. But what we had is finished.”


    She drew in a steadying breath, her voice gaining unwavering determination.


    “Eric… don’t cling to false hope where I’m concerned. I won’t be turning around.”


    Having spoken her piece, she pivoted toward the door, pushed it open with decisive force, and stepped into the outside world without uttering another syble.


    “Hadley!” Tempestuous emotions churned in Eric’s gaze. His body moved on pure instinct, pursuing her—but his feet betrayed him after merely two strides, leaving him to watch with crushing helplessness as she vanished from view.


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    He remained motionless in the doorway, his eyes vacant and lifeless, resembling a stagnant pond that had forgotten how to create ripples.


    One day, Ellis’ call interrupted Hadley’s thoughts.


    She cradled the device against her ear, absorbing his words in contemtive silence.


    “So, everything is arranged?”


    “Yes.”


    “Actually…” Ellis’ voice carried a note of uncertainty.


    “Would you prefer I collect you? Arriving slightlyte wouldn’t matter.”


    “That’s unnecessary.” Hadley declined politely.


    “My schedule is clear today, and it would take you out of your way. I’ll make my way there.”


    “Very well.” Given her insistence, he chose not to argue the point.


    “We’ll speak againter.”


    Once the call ended, Hadley released a long, weary sigh while staring at the now-ckened screen.


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