Chapter 14
Chapter 14:
“I do.”
Hadley nodded, her fingers clenched in her lap.
They continued their conversation for a bit longer until Nyla, clearly fatigued, indicated her need for rest.
“I’ll let you go now. You’ve just arrived today. Have the driver take you back to rest.”
“Okay.”
Leaving the sanatorium behind, Sebastian drove Hadley back to Silver Villas, where she resided with Eric after they got married.
“Get some rest. I’m off.”
“Much appreciated, Sebastian.”
Hadley paused at the threshold of Silver Villas, inhaling deeply before she nudged the door open and crossed the threshold.
Her fingers shook slightly as she turned the handle.
Given a choice, she would never have returned to this house. Choices, however, were a luxury she couldn’t afford now. Wealth was not in her cards.
She had only just come back to Srixby and had yet to secure her own place.
Consider staying in a hotel?
That was out of the question.
Her finances were so strained she would prefer sleeping outdoors rather than squandering money on hotel bills.
Residing in Silver Villas meant tolerating Eric, who obviously detested her.
Yet, fear was no longer part of her vocabulary.
She had faced more than enough judgment over the years. By now, she had learned to weather the worst of it.
Entering the foyer, she placed her suitcase to one side.
The rest on gⲁl𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧸𝒸𝗈𝗺
Hadley extracted her toiletries and a clean outfit to change into later, opting to keep the rest of her belongings in her suitcase.
Her stay was intended to be brief. Just enough days to secure a permanent spot of her own—no reason to fully unpack.
In the downstairs guest bathroom, Hadley quickly showered, rinsing off the travel grime and fatigue.
As evening fell, there was still no sign of Eric.
Glancing into the kitchen, she noted its apparent disuse. Ingredients were sparse. After rummaging around, she located an almost expired package of noodles and some eggs in the refrigerator.
She set a pot of water on the stove to boil and began to prepare her meal.
The dish was simple: noodles topped with a poached egg, devoid of any meat or vegetables.
Breathing in the aroma, Hadley murmured,
“It smells good.”
For her, even a humble meal like this was a luxury.
Just as she prepared to eat, a noise from the foyer caught her attention. She stiffened. It was him—Eric had come home.