?Chapter 2859:


    Her lips trembled as she whispered, “Back then, you shouldn’t have gone after the truck. And me… I should’ve stopped you.”


    “Don’t say that…” Eric frowned slightly, shaking his head.


    “Even if I had to do it again, I’d still go.”


    He turned his head, his voice steady.


    “And you wouldn’t have stopped me. You’d have my back… wouldn’t you?”


    Their eyes met—searching, quiet.


    Hadley hesitated, then nodded slowly.


    “Yeah.”


    It was undeniable.


    Joy was their child.


    Even if Eric and Hadley couldn’t be absolutely certain the child they saw was their daughter, there was still a fragile thread of hope—a one-in-ten-thousand chance. Yet for parents, even that sliver was impossible to dismiss.


    If Eric could catch up, perhaps he could bring Joy back home.


    But fate did not bend to his wishes.


    And now, this was the cruel reality they faced…


    “Eric…” Hadley had a rough idea of what had happened, yet she still asked softly, “Did you see the child’s face?”


    “No.” Eric’s brows knitted as he shook his head.


    He reyed the moment in his mind.


    “The child stayed silent—probably asleep. Then she cried—just once or twice, faint and fleeting—but I’m pretty certain it was Joy!” His jaw tightened.


    “And then they threw me out of the vehicle.”


    “Are you really sure?” Hadley’s heart lurched, her eyes quickly brimming with tears.


    “You heard her cry? Then she’s alive?”


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    “Yes.” Eric nodded, recalling the man and woman’s behavior.


    “From the way they acted, it seemed they only wanted the child.”


    He had even offered them money, but they showed no interest. At least that ruled out ransom. And in a rural ce like this, a child that young was unlikely to be harmed for any other reason—at least not right away.


    “Joy should be safe for now…”


    All they could do was pray—pray for her safety.


    As for whether Joy was hungry, frightened, or crying somewhere in the dark…


    Those were thoughts they could only face after they found her.


    “What about Locke?” Hadley’s question came quickly, edged with urgency.


    “Was he with her?”


    “I’m not sure…” Eric’s frown deepened as he shook his head.


    “I didn’t see him, but the truck bed was deep. I can’t say for certain.”


    “I see…” Hadley murmured.


    “I took a photo of the license te and sent it to Phillips. They’ll trace it.”


    She nced at her phone, brows furrowed.


    “Why hasn’t anyone arrived yet?”


    “Don’t worry.” Eric’s tone was far calmer than hers.


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