?Chapter 2847:


    “Eric.” Hadley’s voice stopped him.


    “Yes?” Eric turned at once.


    “Do you need something?”


    Hadley parted her lips, hesitating.


    “You…”


    Eric’s chest tightened, his breath catching.


    “Me?” Could she really be calling for him?


    Hadley froze, her brows knitting as she waved a hand quickly.


    “No, no! That’s not what I meant. I just wanted to ask where you’re staying tonight.”


    The surroundings were eerily deste—each house separated by long stretches of emptynd. Beyond them, the mountains loomed as dark silhouettes against the sky.


    It wasn’t even thatte—just past eight—but the stillness was so deep it felt like midnight.


    She couldn’t help it; unease curled in her chest.


    Ah… so that was what she was worried about.


    Eric gave a faint, self-mocking smile, shaking his head at the stray thoughts that had crossed his mind.


    He lifted a hand and pointed to the room right beside hers.


    “Don’t worry. I’m staying next door.”


    With that, he stepped closer to the bed and tapped lightly on the shared wall.


    “See? It’s just a wooden partition.”


    “Alright.” Hadley nodded, recognizing the hollow sound.


    “If you knock, I’ll hear you right away.”


    “Okay…” Relief softened her features as the tension slid from her shoulders. That was reassuring.


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    “Then get some rest. Goodnight.”


    “Goodnight.”


    Hadley closed the door andy down, the bed creaking softly beneath her.


    Soon, the medicine began to take effect, and her eyelids grew heavy.


    Just before sleep imed her, she lifted her hand and tapped twice on the wall.


    “Eric?”


    Almost instantly, two gentle knocks answered.


    Then his voice followed, calm and steady.


    “I’m here.”


    “Good…” Hadley exhaled, a small smile tugging at her lips. For the first time that night, she felt truly at peace.


    “I’m going to sleep now.”


    Her eyes drifted shut, and silently she prayed—let there be news of Joy by morning.


    “Sleep well,” Eric murmured from the other side.


    Lying on his side with only that thin wall between them, Eric let his gaze rest in her direction.


    A stray thought brushed his mind—if that wall weren’t there, they would almost be lying in the same bed.


    He raised an arm over his eyes, his throat tightening faintly. Fine, he thought. He would pretend that was the case.


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