Chapter 8 His Back
Hadley hurried back to Silver Villas, moving as quickly as she could.
Eric wasn’t in sight.
She headed straight for the bathroom.
Unexpectedly, upon opening the door, she found Eric inside.
Was he in the middle of changing? His upper body was uncovered…
“Hadley!” Eric’s expression turned stormy immediately, his tone sharp as he hastily grabbed a shirt.
“Sorry!” Hadley apologized and promptly closed the door.
How could she have known he was there? And why was he using the ground floor bathroom anyway?
Behind the closed door, Eric’s anger hadn’t subsided, his gaze reflexively darting to his back… Had she noticed anything?
Shortly after, Eric stepped out, now fully clothed.
He pointed to a large box resting on the coffee table. “Please change into this.”
Hadley immediately realized it was likely a gown.
Given that the Flynn family was organizing a banquet, they would certainly ensure it was an elegant affair, even if it was solely in her honor.
“Alright.”
She accepted the box with a nod.
Soon, Hadley made her return.
To
She donned a beige off–shoulder gown that gracefully flowed down to the f complement her attire for the banquet, she had applied makeup, refined her eyebrows, and chosen a subtle lipstick shade.
Though not affluent, her profession necessitated maintaining a basic assortment of
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cosmetics:
Her natural beauty was enhanced by just this modest application of cosmetics, highlighting her classic elegance.
With just a few enhancements, her allure was amplified.
Eric watched her intently, his gaze sharpening.
Her hair was elegantly tied back, accentuating her slender, swan–like neck. She looked ethereal, her beauty almost transcending this world.
Momentarily, Eric was caught off guard.
He had to acknowledge, she truly stood out.
In the past, she had the appearance of a delicate doll.
Now in her early twenties, she had evolved from her naive youth, flourishing like a fully
bloomed rose…
Eric scrutinized her, his eyes tightening. “Earlier in the bathroom… did you catch a glimpse of something?”
“What?” Hadley responded, her face showing genuine bewilderment. “A glimpse of what?”
His observations of her expression convinced him she was not acting. She had not seen…
his back.
Without further discussion, Eric motioned for her to follow. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
The party was set at Tranquille Sanatorium, located in the southern part of the city, where Nyla was staying.
Nyla’s health conditions made it necessary for her to stay within the sanatorium.
Thankfully, the sanatorium had a private courtyard, featuring a well–kept lawn that was ideal for such small–scaled events.
They were driven directly to the sanatorium. During the drive, Hadley remained silent, looking out the window thoughtfully.
Eric, seated next to her, experienced an unexplained uneasiness.
Was the silence too profound?
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Chapter 8 His Back
Eric recalled the days when Hadley would chatter endlessly around him, always having something to share. It used to irritate him immensely.
Why had she become so reserved?
Clearly, something was off.
Was she plotting something new?
He dismissed the notion with a shake of his head. The divorce papers were signed. Whatever her plans, the separation was sealed.
When they reached the sanatorium, Eric escorted Hadley to meet Nyla.
Their timing was less than ideal, as Nyla was in the middle of receiving routine therapy
from the doctor.
“Hadley.” Nyla grasped Hadley’s hand warmly. “The therapy will last about half an hour! Why don’t you catch up with everyone first? It’s been so long since you’ve seen them all.”
“Sure, Nyla,” Hadley responded with a soft smile and a nod.
Yet, Nyla appeared concerned, turning her attention to Eric with specific instructions. “Please, stay by Hadley’s side and look after her.”
“Grandma…” Eric’s expression clouded with reluctance.
“What?”
A shadow crossed Nyla’s face. “After all the times I’ve listened to you, same for me now?”
can’t you do the
She was referring to the decision made four years earlier, when Eric had decided Hadley should leave, cutting off their communication…
Finding himself at a loss for words, Eric reluctantly agreed. “Fine.”
“Good.”
Comforted, Nyla squeezed Hadley’s hand encouragingly. “Now, go with Eric. Don’t hesitate to ask him for help if you need anything.”
“Alright.”
Hadley quietly acknowledged with nods.
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As they left the room, Hadley walked tightly behind Eric.
They moved from the living room into the courtyard, aware of many eyes tracking their
every move.
Hadley could even pick up snippets of their quiet speculation.
“Hey, who is that with Mr. Flynn?”
“Is that Linda?”
“That doesn’t look like Linda; she’s not that tall.”
“Could she be wearing heels, though?”
A soft chuckle escaped Hadley.
She was aware of how close Linda and Eric were, but the idea of being mistaken for Linda was somewhat absurd.
They differed significantly in both height and physical appearance.
“Hello?” Abruptly, the man ahead halted to answer his phone. “About that project, listen…”
His discussion appeared to be about some business matters.
Hadley couldn’t make sense of it and chose to disengage, remaining silent.
Suddenly, Eric increased his walking speed, forcing Hadley to hasten her steps to keep up.
Then, without warning, he faced her, a look of annoyance clear on his face. “I have to deal with some issues, so don’t follow me.”
He then quickly walked away.
Standing there, Hadley felt a calm acceptance wash over her.
She anticipated that he might leave her behind–and he did. Now, she needed to figure out her next steps. What was she to do now?
She touched her stomach, feeling the pangs of hunger. The only thing she had eaten so far was a couple of slices of bread.
Now seemed like a good opportunity to eat something more substantial.
Hadley made her way to the buffet table, grabbed a plate, and began to fill it with foods she hadn’t savored in four years…
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“Linda!”
Out of nowhere, a light tap came on her shoulder.
Hadley stopped and turned around.
“Wait, what?”
The woman behind her looked familiar.
Years ago, this woman had also been infatuated with Eric. She was Danica Clifford, the heiress of the Clifford family.
Back in the day, rumors flew that Danica would have been Eric’s bride if not for Hadley.
Naturally, there was no love lost between Danica and Hadley.
“You’re not Linda. You…”
Recognition dawned on Hadley immediately, and after a moment, Danica also realized who she was facing, albeit with a moment’s delay.
“Is that you, Hadley?”
Danica wasn’t by herself; a group of her friends was with her.
As soon as they heard the name “Hadley“, their faces registered shock.
All eyes shifted toward Hadley.
“Who? Hadley?”
“Is she really back?”
“Funny.” One of the women chuckled. “Didn’t you know? Nyla organized this whole celebration as a welcome back for Hadley.”
“I was unaware. I just knew there was a gathering and showed up. It’s quite something, Hadley’s return!”
The group of women showed clear disapproval.
“Had I known this was for her, I might have skipped it! Celebrating her retu just my luck!”
“This means trouble! With Hadley back, Srixby is going to be in chaos!”
That’s
Hadley chose to ignore their remarks, allowing them to pass without impact, and
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continued serving herself. Opportunities like this were rete, and the intended to enjoy e
She grabbed the tongs and helped herself to a brownie from the tray
Right at that moment, another set of tongs appeared, reaching for the same treses
Glancing up, she saw Danica.
Feigning panic, Danica quickly recoiled with an exaggerated expression of surprise before saying, “Oh, please, help yourself. I wasn’t that keen on it anyway”
Hadley’s quiet laugh was filled with irony, sexing through Danica’s set
It was evident that Danica hadn’t altered her ways, she was as face and deception the
had always been.
Previously, such an encounter would likely have escalated into a confrontation
However, this time was different…
“Appreciate it.”
Hadley’s smile was faint as she took the brownie, gracefully exiting the scene
As she walked away, the background buzz of conversation intensified
“What happened? Did she not challenge you?”
“She’s not the person she used to be!”
Danica, with a hint of scorn, muttered, “Changed? Really? You know what they say–old habits die hard. She’s surely just putting on a show!”
Danica glanced at Hadley’s dress and gave a sly smirk. Just watch. The real drama’s about to unfold!”
As she was speaking, her attention shifted. She noticed Linda in the distance.
Linda was elegantly clad in a beige off–shoulder gown, its hem sweeping the floor. She was beaming, arm in arm with Eric.
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< Too Late, Mz Billionaire: You Can’t Afford Me Now
Chapter 9
