?Chapter 2871:


    “There—look!”


    Phillips led the way, and the beam of his shlight fell upon her.


    The sight froze them all—the police officers, the bodyguards, even Phillips himself.


    Shocking wasn’t enough to describe it.


    It was a miracle.


    Light converged on a single figure: a frail, slender woman, her back bowed beneath the weight of a man nearly twice her size.


    She stood there, unmoving, unyielding.


    How had she done it?


    Every single one of them thought the same thing.


    The light hit her face. Hadley winced, squinting at the brightness, and then slowly lifted her head.


    Not far ahead, Phillips stood at the very front, a dark tide of figures gathered behind him.


    Hadley’s gaze softened as it found him. Her lips parted slightly, trembling as though to form words, yet none emerged. She was far too weary—utterly drained of strength to speak. Instead, she simply looked at him, the faintest tug at her lips forming a fragile smile.


    That fleeting smile jolted Phillips from his daze, and he surged forward.


    “It’s Hadley and Mr. Scott!”


    The group behind him moved as one, rushing forward like a breaking wave.


    “Hadley!” Phillips reached her first, his hand catching her arm to steady her. His eyes burned as he looked at her.


    “I’m sorry… I came toote!”


    Hadley’sshes fluttered, her head shaking the slightest bit.


    “You’re here… that’s enough.”


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    With his presence, the tension in her chest finally eased.


    Her eyelids grew heavy—too heavy to resist. They shut atst. Her knees gave way, and her body slumped.


    “Hadley!” Phillips caught her swiftly, keeping her from copsing to the ground.


    A deep frown carved into his face as he barked, “Hurry! Get Mr. Scott off her back!”


    Hadley was at her breaking point—she could barely hold his weight a moment longer.


    “Yes, sir!” The bodyguards moved in carefully, supporting Eric as they tried to separate the two.


    But a problem arose almost at once.


    “Mr. Brown! Miss Pearson’s hands… they’re locked too tightly!”


    Phillips nced down—Hadley’s arms clung to Eric with desperate strength: one hooked across his arms against her chest, the other bracing his knee.


    It was the only way she had managed to keep him from falling. But now her fingers were stiff, frozen in ce as though fused to him. They couldn’t pry her grip open.


    She had pushed herself too far—her joints had seized from sheer overexertion.


    Phillips blinked hard, crouching to gently loosen her hold.


    “I’ll do it. Slowly… don’t force it. Be careful not to hurt her.”


    “Yes, sir…”


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