?Chapter 2932:


    “Ellis.” Allen’s voice came through, shaky and hesitant. “There’s something important I need to talk to you about…”


    “Is something wrong?” Ellis asked as he picked up on the tension in Allen’s voice right away. Any trace of sleep vanished as he straightened up. “Just tell me what’s going on.”


    Allen hesitated before answering, “Look… the thing is, you need to reconsider your situation with Hadley.”


    “Wait, are you serious?” A jolt of disbelief shot through Ellis. Trying to lighten the mood, he let out a nervousugh. “Allen, where is thising from? You can’t be for real.”


    “I’m dead serious!” Allen’s tone sharpened. “The Scott Group just pulled out from our cooperation and shut down the entire logisticswork!”


    Ellis felt his stomach drop. “What? Why would they do that?”


    “Why?” Allen’s frustration came through the phone. “Ellis, think about it. Why do you think they’reing after us?”


    Ellis hesitated, his mind racing to piece together Allen’s words. “So you’re saying this alles back to Hadley?”


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    “What else could it be?” Allen retorted. “We’ve had a solid arrangement with the Scott Group for years. Nothing like this has ever happened, and now they just pull this out of nowhere?”


    Ellis shook his head, unwilling to ept it. “You’re just making assumptions, Allen. The partnership’s been smooth for both sides. Why would Scott Group suddenly change their tune?”


    “Ellis.” Allen let out a tired sigh. “You don’t really get how things work in this business. Ferris stepped down for good just days ago. Eric’s calling all the shots at Scott Group now.”


    He didn’t stop there. “And who’s Eric to Hadley? That’s her ex-husband. The moment Eric took over, everything changed. If this isn’t about Hadley, what else would it be?”


    The argument left Ellis silent.


    With a heavy frown, he spoke. “That doesn’t make sense. They’ve been divorced for ages!”


    “You’re seeing this all too simply.” Allen let out a humorlessugh. “The divorce didn’t change a thing. I even checked with your other brothers, and it turns out Eric never got over Hadley.” He spoke with urgency. “Everyone in Srixby knows this. You can ask around, and people will say the same thing.”


    A weary sigh escaped Allen, and his tone softened. “I get it, Ellis. Meeting someone you truly like doesn’t happen every day. But you need to think of the bigger picture here. The family’s at stake. Try to be reasonable, will you?”


    “Allen, listen—” Ellis’s brow creased with worry, his reluctance clear. “Have you actually talked to Eric? Are you sure this is the real reason?”


    “Oh, Ellis…” A dryugh slipped from Allen. “We tried to reach out right after everything blew up. He’s been avoiding us ever since.”


    He sighed heavily and asked, “Don’t you see what’s happening?”


    Ellis fell quiet, struggling with his thoughts before finally replying, “Just give me a little time, Allen.”


    He ended the call, leaned back, and closed his eyes, massaging his temples as uncertainty crept in. Was Eric really pulling strings over Hadley?


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