?Chapter 2930:


    “Make sure you treasure Hadley, and don’t hold anything back,” Colleen said, her face turning solemn. “Hadley went through a lot back in the,” she added, her tone low.


    “Alright.” Eric nodded, his brow furrowed. He understood what she meant.


    “So…” Colleen continued, “she only managed to let you back into her life because she honestly cares about you.”


    Eric could barely get a word out, his throat tight. He just nodded again and again.


    “I’m heading out now.” Colleen’s face softened. She waved her hand and said, “You don’t have to walk me out.”


    Colleen spun on her heel, looking up as she breathed out, finally letting herself rx. Hadley deserved to find real joy, she thought, to end up with someone who loved her for all the right reasons.


    She knew the sting of disappointment all too well, having missed out on her own chance at happiness. Her mother used to say that life was the same no matter who she spent it with.


    Still, she had given her heart a chance. She couldn’t pretend that life would turn out the same with anyone else but the one she truly loved and cared for.


    A silent wish lingered in her mind—she hoped her dear friend would never carry the same regrets.


    “Take care.”


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    Eric stayed rooted to the spot, watching Colleen leave. He lifted his hand, wiping at his eyes that had turned red, his chest tight with emotion.


    That evening, Eric made his way back to the Flynn Mansion. As soon as he stepped inside, he called out, “Hadley?” His eyes searched every corner of the entryway.


    “Daddy!”


    Joy darted out from the hallway, and Eric wrapped her up in his arms, holding her close.


    “Hey, my little angel.” Eric pressed a kiss to his daughter’s cheek. “Do you know where your mom is?”


    “She left a little while ago.”


    Eric’s eyebrows drew together. “Left? Where did she run off to?”


    “She had to work.”


    Rolling her wheelchair up beside them, N chimed in, “Mr. Webster rang her out of the blue. The brand they’re working with wanted to see her, so she rushed out without much warning.”


    Eric looked unsettled. “She just dropped everything and left?” Worry flickered in his eyes as he continued, “Any idea where she headed? Did she tell you when she’de back?”


    “She mentioned she had a few ces to go.” N nced his way. “She didn’t give me a time frame. I didn’t think to press her for more.”


    “What?” A sigh escaped Eric. “Why didn’t you try to get more information?”


    N rolled her eyes. “Wait, are you actually ming me for this now?”


    “Not at all,” Eric replied, forcing a small, apologetic grin as he shook his head. “I wouldn’t even think about it.”


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