?Chapter 2797:


    “Hey, Chelsey.” Hadley spoke in a softer tone.


    “What Linda has done is terrible. She is the one who deserves to be punished! Wouldn’t you agree?”


    “Please, Hadley…” Chelsey bit her lip. She struggled to choose a side.


    “Truly, you have treated me with such kindness, and I am grateful…”


    “Chelsey, listen…” With a small nod, Hadley showed she understood.


    “Deep down, I believe you’re not a bad person. Unlike Linda, you are kind… Please take time to think it through, okay?”


    After finishing her visit, Hadley stepped outside, only to find Ellis still upied.


    She lingered for a short while until he finally appeared.


    Jogging over, he called out apologetically, “Sorry! Got caught up with something unexpected… Kept you waiting, didn’t I?”


    “No.” Hadley shook her head, her voiceposed.


    “Shall we go?”


    “Yeah.”


    Ellis fetched the car and drove her out of White Lake Prison, steering toward the city streets.


    “Lunch together?” he asked casually.


    “Sure,” Hadley replied in a muted tone. They had already arranged it over the phone yesterday.


    “Where would you like to eat?”


    “Anywhere works.”


    “Let’s see…” Ellis pondered aloud.


    “Since you’re leaving it up to me, I’ll choose.”


    “Alright.” Hadley didn’t object—where they ate hardly mattered to her.


    “Perfect.” A small smile curved Ellis’ lips, his mood noticeably lighter.


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    As the car merged into the city, Hadley barely paid attention at first. But little by little, unease began to settle in.


    Where exactly was he heading?


    Eric had taken her to nearly every fine restaurant in Srixby.


    This part of town didn’t seem to boast any.


    Worse still, the surroundings felt strangely quiet.


    “Where are we going?” Hadley finally asked, her brow furrowing.


    “Hungry already?” Ellis nced at his watch.


    “Rx—we’re almost there.”


    There? Where exactly?


    Hadley’s eyes swept over the passing scenery.


    The farther they drove, the quieter it grew.


    Soon, they turned down ane lined with tall ne trees, a residential entrance visible just ahead.


    Were they… entering a neighborhood?


    Hadley hazarded a guess.


    “Do you live here?”


    “Yes.” Ellis nodded.


    “You said anywhere was fine, so I thought…”


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