?Chapter 3155:


    “Here, eat this.” She scooped the egg yolk off her te and lifted it toward his mouth. “Open.”


    Eric opened his mouth like a well-trained child and epted the bite.


    Ernest smirked from across the table, jumping on the opportunity to return fire. “Talking about being domesticated, huh? Hey, did you thank Hadley for feeding you?”


    Eric’s mouth opened, but then closed. He had nothing.


    Really? That was how they were ying this?


    Hadley shook her head in exasperation.


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    Eric might be childish, but Ernest wasn’t winning any maturity awards either.


    Once breakfast was wrapped up, both brothers headed out for work.


    Hadley and Elissa loaded Locke and Joy into the car and headed for school.


    As they pulled out of the driveway, Hadley turned to Elissa. “So that you know, both kids have security details that follow them. I don’t always do the school run myself.”


    She had her own work schedule to manage—some days it just didn’t line up with school hours.


    But she’d wanted to bring Elissa along today so she could see the school firsthand.


    Eventually, Elissa would be doing drop-offs too. Plus there’d be parent-teacher conferences and school events—better to get her familiar with everything now.


    Elissa nodded, taking it all in. “Got it.”


    Nervousness radiated from Elissa, but Hadley resisted the urge to overly reassure her.


    The family had held a quiet discussion about Elissa’s situation—without Elissa present. Hadley’s position had been clear: they shouldn’t walk on eggshells around Elissa.


    If they really cared about her well-being, the best thing they could do would be to treat her like anyone else. So naturally that eventually, even Elissa herself would forget there had ever been anything “wrong” with her at all.


    The whole family had agreed with that approach.


    Hadley’s phone buzzed at that moment.


    “Hello?”


    Kira’s voice came through the speaker. “The vendor can bring wedding favor samples over this afternoon. Does that work for you?”


    Hadley considered it briefly. N would need to approve them, and she’d been feeling strongertely. “Yeah, that should be fine.”


    After Hadley ended the call, Elissa nced over with a bright smile. “Wedding favors? For you and Eric?”


    “Yep.” Hadley nodded, and then turned the question around. “What about you two? Have you and Ernest talked about the wedding at all?”


    “Us?” Elissa blinked in surprise, caught off guard. “I… I don’t know. Ernest hasn’t mentioned it.”


    “Really?” Surprise flickered across Hadley’s face. Ernest hadn’t brought it up at all?


    Then understanding dawned. “Oh, I get it. He’s probably waiting to discuss it with N first. She handled all the arrangements for our wedding, too. Don’t worry about it—you just got back. She’ll bring it up when she’s ready.”


    Pink crept into Elissa’s cheeks. “I’m not in any rush.”


    Hadley grinned. “Well, I am.”


    She was mostly teasing, but she made a mental note to have Eric feel Ernest out about itter.


    Some conversations went smoothly between men, after all.


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