?Chapter 2868:


    He was painfully aware of how heavy he had be. He wanted to tell her to set him down. But no strength remained, and his mouth refused to obey.


    All he could do was lie there, utterly helpless, draped across her back.


    Hadley was so good.


    She had once been his—all his—and yet, when he had her, he never fully appreciated her worth. Only now did he recognize how extraordinary she truly was.


    No, perhaps he had always known, deep down. He just hadn’t cared enough to admit it.


    Back then, he had been insufferable.


    He treated her poorly, lost patience over trivial things, and often sparked arguments that never mattered.


    He had criticized her more times than he could count.


    However, Hadley wasn’t one to back down easily.


    Arguments between them were almost routine. She would shout, “Eric, I’m never speaking to you again!”


    For several days afterward, she kept her word, giving him the silent treatment.


    Eric didn’t mind the quiet; in fact, he found it strangely wee. N, on the other hand, couldn’t bear to see them at odds. She always stepped in to smooth things over.


    During dinner one time, she leaned toward Eric.


    “Eric, that’s Hadley’s favorite dish. Go on and give her some.”


    Usually, Eric looked less than eager to follow through. Meanwhile, Hadley noticed his reluctance, her lips pressing into a small pout.


    “Eric!” N urged again, her eyes wide with insistence. Backed into a corner, Eric finally reached out, picked up some food, and set it gently onto Hadley’s te.


    “Here, eat this,” he muttered under his breath.


    Hadley’s lips curved into a small, uncontainable smile. Lowering her head, she answered softly, a lightugh slipping through.


    “Alright.”


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    With that simple moment, the tension between them faded. Or perhaps it was more that she chose to forgive him on her own, and once again began treating him kindly.


    Inside Eric’s dazed mind, scattered pieces of those memories reyed. A tear broke free from his tightly closed eyes, sliding down the bridge of his nose.


    Now, the girl who had once poured out her heart for him was the one carrying his weight on her back.


    Hadley bit her lip, forcing herself onward as she struggled to take another step.


    “Eric, you’re so heavy,” she muttered, her voice low, dragging her feet forward.


    She had no certainty that her effort meant anything, nor did she know how long her body couldst. Still, she pressed on, step after step, like a machine refusing to stop.


    Darkness had swallowed the skypletely, and not a trace of light remained.


    Step by step, Hadley pushed herself forward.


    The rain had passed, leaving behind an unsettling stillness that weighed heavily on the air.


    A cold wind stirred the branches, and every so often, a faint rustle broke the silence, as if something unseen crept nearby.


    Instantly, Hadley stiffened. Her heart thudded wildly. What could it be? It didn’t sound human, yet it was moving—alive.


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