?Chapter 2801:


    A dull thump echoed as something slid to the floor. What could it be?


    Curious, Hadley nced down. A ck, leather-bound book hadnded at her feet. She crouched and reached for it. It wasn’t an ordinary book at all—it was a photo album.


    The album felt old-fashioned. These days, most people kept their pictures stored on their phones or tucked away in cloud storage.


    When the album hit the floor, it slipped open, and Hadley couldn’t help catching a glimpse of the photographs inside.


    Right at the front was the image of a boy—his features still carrying the freshness of youth, his expression a little innocent. It was Ellis in his younger days.


    Across the page were snapshots of him alone, along with others taken with ssmates—mostly groups of boys, with only a few girls appearing here and there.


    Among them, only one photo showed Ellis beside a girl, and they were the only two in the frame.


    The girl wore her hair in long braids draped over her chest. She leaned subtly toward Ellis, her smile bright enough to light up the picture.


    Something about that smile…


    Why did it stir such a strange sense of familiarity in Hadley? Her brows furrowed, her lips pressing into a tight line. Holding her breath, she hurriedly turned to the next page.


    As the photos continued, Ellis’ appearance shifted. His boyish face sharpened into something more mature, and that same girl never left his side. She, too, had grown—her presence changing with time.


    Further into the album, both of them wore police uniforms, the girl now with cropped hair framing her face.


    As Hadley stared at her image, unease tightened her features. Almost unconsciously, she lifted a hand and brushed her own cheek.


    Of course—that exined it. The girl’s face resembled hers, most striking when she smiled, and even more so as she matured.


    Realization hit like a blow.


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    Hadley’s chest tightened, her heartbeat quickening. Atst, she understood. Everything suddenly made sense.


    “Hadley, are you okay in there?” Ellis’ voice cut into the moment.


    Hadley lifted her head at once, her eyes locking onto him with unwavering intensity.


    “You…” Ellis’ voice faltered as he stepped into the doorway. He had onlye to see why she was taking so long, but the sight of the album in her hands froze him in ce. Without hesitation, he rushed forward, yanked it from her grip, and mped it shut with a harsh snap.


    A pale shade washed over his face, and every line of his jaw tightened with strain.


    “Ellis.” Hadley’s eyes never left him. Her voice held both steadiness and usation.


    “This is all because of her, isn’t it? No…”


    She gave a sharp shake of her head.


    “To be exact, it’s my face. I remind you of her, don’t I?”


    A suddenugh burst from her lips, bitterly clear. She nodded as if the truth had finally settled into ce.


    “That’s it. I always wondered why you imed to like me when you barely even knew me.”


    She jabbed a finger toward the album, her voice trembling with fury.


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