Chapter 23 Move Out Of His House
Having completed her tasks, Hadley felt a sense of relief wash over her. Now, she could depart with peace of
mind.
Before leaving, she snagged the remaining two pieces of bread from the refrigerator.
She made her way back to her new rental
Fortunately, the peak of rush hour had subsided, leaving the roads open and easier to navigate.
Upon arriving, Hadley unlocked her new home, placed her suitcase inside, and rolled up her sleeves, ready to
clean.
She diligently cleaned every surface, dusted all areas, and neatly arranged her possessions.
By the time she finished, the day had turned into night.
Feeling her stomach rumble, Hadley remembered the bread she had consumed on the bus ride, it had hardly satisfied her after all the cleaning
With her wallet in tow, Hadley secured her apartment and walked to the nearby supermarket
She bypassed the better options, opting instead for a huge loaf of bread, some pickles, and a jar of peanut
butter.
Once home, Hadley prepared a simple meal–peanut butter sandwich with some pickles.
Options were few. Without any income yet and after parting with $5, 200, she had to make each dollar last.
The $5,000 from the police settlement wasn’t her choice, but Hadley was adamant about not letting Eric handle
- it.
She was determined to sever all ties with him.
Luckily, Hadley had a job now and would soon get her first paycheck. She would have to stretch her budget
until then, but at least she wouldn’t starve.
This situation didn’t faze her, she had endured far worse.
Back in Blathe, Hadley once rummaged through restaurant bins for food.
At least now she could afford some bread and pickles, and she no longer faced the harsh glares or had to compete with homeless people over discarded food.
Gone was the delicate young woman the Flynn family had once sheltered.
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Chapter 23 Move Out Of His House
Late that night, Eric arrived back at Silver Villas around two in the morning
The living room was shrouded in darkness, with only the dim light from a streetlamp filtering through the
window.
Entering, Eric instinctively looked towards the sofa.
He stopped, blinked, thinking perhaps his eyes deceived him, and looked again
But no, his initial observation was correct.
The sofa was unoccupied.
Confusion set in. Wasn’t Hadley supposed to be there? It was incredibly late. Where could she be?
Eric let out a derisive snort. “Done playing the helpless card? Finally got herself a room?”
A wave of dizziness washed over him, prompting him to shake his head clear.
Tonight, he had inadvertently overindulged in alcohol.
Without further ado, he made his way upstairs.
The following morning, Eric emerged late from bed, nursing a hangover that was tempered slightly by a refreshing shower.
Downstairs, his housekeeper, Lina Hinks, was tidying up.
Upon spotting him, she approached quickly. “Mr. Flynn, I found this on the table for you. Please, have a look.”
“What’s this?”
Eric accepted the substantial envelope.
Curiosity piqued, he wondered what it contained.
The envelope was thick, seemingly stuffed with cash, and bore handwritten notes.
“To Eric Flynn, enclosed is $5, 200. Of this, $5, 000 covers the settlement you paid, and $200 is for deaning the
couch, which is the standard rate. I’ve moved out. Apologies for any inconvenience over the last few days.
Hadley Pearson.”
That was the entirety of the message.
Eric’s expression hardened as he slit open the envelope, and a bundle of bills tumbled out.
“What on earth…”
Chuckling bitterly, Eric flung the envelope aside and continued deeper into the house.
Pausing at the bathroom, he noticed the absence of Hadley’s bulky suitcase.
“Lina!”
“Yes, Mr. Flynn!” Lina hurried to his side. “What can I do for you?”
Eric’s face was stern as he gestured towards the servants quarters. “Have these rooms been cleaned? Is anyone
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Occupying them?”
“They’ve been cleaned,” Lina replied, puzzled. “They’re empty. No one has occupied them.”
It was clear then. Hadley hadn’t just moved to another room.
She had left for good.
she likely departed the previous evening
And she had settled her debts with him.
Since the age of fifteen, Hadley had depended on the Flynn family for everything.
A cold rage flickered in Eric’s eyes as his lips curled into a sneer. “Hadley, do you think you can treat my home like a hotel? just coming and going as you please?”
Eric then dialed Hadley’s number.
At that moment, Hadley was still deep in sleep.
“Hello…” she answered groggily.
“Hadley,”
Eric’s tone was even over the phone, yet Hadley sensed an underlying coldness that made her uneasy. She
swallowed hard,
“What’s up?”
“You didn’t return last night? Where did you go?”
What?
A wave of surprise jolted Hadley more awake. “Didn’t you read the note I left? I’ve moved out…”
“Who said you could leave?”
Eric’s voice rose sharply, the anger in his tone nearly piercing Hadley’s ear. “Was that cleared by me?
Hadley’s brow furrowed. “Since when do I need your approval? It’s your house. I shouldn’t have to stay where
I’m not wanted.”
Caught off guard by Hadley’s retort, Eric fell silent, unable to muster a comeback.
Hadley seized the moment. “Is it the divorce that you’re worried about? I admit I messed up the other day. That won’t happen again.”
Seeking to reassure Eric, she continued with a tone of resolve, “I promise to be available every day until we finalize the divorce. I won’t waste any more of your time. Are we okay now?”
Her assurance was firm.
Despite this, Eric couldn’t quite dispel the irritation that lingered.
“After all these years abroad, you’ve learned nothing about courtesy. Can’t you even give a simple heads–up before leaving someone’s home? What happened to your manners?”
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Hadley clutched her phone tighter and sighed, shaking her head. Eric’s temperament was as terrible as ever, and his disdain for defiance remained strong.
There was a time when his mood swings affected her deeply, but those days were long gone.
“You’re right. I was impolite,” Hadley replied, ready to wrap up the conversation. “Is there anything else? Because if not, I’m going to hang up.”
With a quick tap, Hadley ended the call.
She set her phone aside and turned over, ready to fall back to sleep.
“Hadley!” Eric’s voice echoed loudly through the room, his surprise and anger evident.
She just hung up on him? That took nerve. Eric seethed with frustration. Well, if she was so eager to be gone,
so be it.
Regardless of Eric’s feelings, Hadley remained indifferent.
With a new job secured, a fresh living arrangement, and a singular goal to earn money, she was focused.
Hadley immediately set about securing additional part–time work.
Her plan was to teach dance, as dancing was her only real skill.
However, her hopes were dampened after visiting two studios; their schedules didn’t align with hers. Each studio required instructors for evening classes, but her evenings were already committed.
The salary at Galant was too substantial to consider leaving.
Consequently, Hadley abandoned the idea of teaching dance.
Following a morning filled with frustrations, Hadley found herself sitting in a park, unwrapping a peanut butter
sandwich.
The bread was now a bit gooey, yet she consumed it regardless.
A commotion nearby captured her attention.
A film crew appeared to be in the midst of a crisis, pausing their shoot.
Visibly upset, the director exclaimed, “Are we really considering canceling today’s shoot because we’re short one dancer? We have multiple scenes scheduled for this morning!”
The assistant director bore the director’s frustration.
“We’re only missing one dancer. Perhaps we could still proceed with the remaining ones? It might work out.”
“Really?” the director shouted, gesturing angrily. “Is this your standard of professionalism? Are you joking with me, or are you underestimating our audience? Find a suitable replacement immediately. You have half an hour!”
“Understood!”
The assistant director, clearly overwhelmed, turned aside, muttering under his breath.
“That dancer canceled last minute. How is this my responsibility? Where am I supposed to find someone on
such short notice?”
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Just then, the assistant director noticed a woman observing the scene.
He dismissively gestured at her. “Can I help you? If you’re here to watch, please move along.”
“Um…”
The woman was none other than Hadley,
After a brief pause, Hadley gathered her courage. “Sorry but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation.”
The assistant director looked at Hadley skeptically. “And?”
Pointing to herself, Hadley confidently responded, “I’m a dancer. I hold a degree in modern dance from the Chauncey Academy of Art. Perhaps I could be of help? I believe I can step in for your missing dancer.”
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