Chapter 232
She briefly shut her eyes, and then looked at him again, her gaze mocking yet calm. “I truly wish that your long wait will be rewarded, and that you’ll capture her heart.”
What she implied was clear—”I hope you and Linda end up together forever, sparing the rest of us any trouble.”
“Hadley!” That was the last straw. Eric’s temper flared.
He removed his hand from her face, his fist tightening. Anger consumed him, pushing him to the brink of violence.
Hadley had always been his woman, his cherished one.
Never, in his wildest dreams, would Eric have raised a hand to a woman—least of all, her.
Yet the inferno burning within his chest spiraled beyond his control. With a ragged breath, he clenched his fist and hurled it downward with raw force.
Hadley, gripped by dread, squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable sting.
A thunderous thud filled the air, but the anticipated pain never came.
Hesitantly, she opened her eyes just a fraction. Eric’s fist had collided with the back of the seat, barely inches from her. What in the world… was he doing?
“Get out,” Eric’s voice cut through the tense silence, cold and commanding.
“Now!”
“Oh—alright!” Hadley stammered, her trembling fingers fumbling for the door handle. She rushed out of the car in a frantic haste, nearly losing her balance in her effort to escape.
Eric remained seated, his gaze locked on her vanishing figure as it disappeared into the distance. A heavy silence lingered before he pinched the bridge of his nose, a hiss of frustration escaping through clenched teeth.
Damn it! His leniency had allowed her to slip away once again.
Did she really think she could keep avoiding him forever?
By Sunday morning, Eric woke later than usual. As he descended the grand staircase, faint murmurs of conversation drifted from the living room.
gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰𝗈n – 𝖗𝖊𝖓𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖛𝓲𝖊𝖗𝓽
He didn’t head straight for the parlor. Instead, he turned toward Kira, the trusted housekeeper, curiosity threading his voice.
“Who has come to visit?”
“It’s Mr. Moran,” Kira replied with a warm smile, placing Eric’s breakfast on the table. “Your breakfast, sir.”
“Thank you,” Eric murmured, lifting the coffee to his lips for a tentative sip before setting it down. Rising to his feet, his thoughts were already elsewhere.
What business could have brought Denver here so early?
“Sir, won’t you eat?” Kira called after him, concern lacing her voice.
“In a minute,” Eric answered over his shoulder, already striding toward the living room.
Within, Denver sat across from Nyla, his demeanor all courtesy as he offered the tokens he had brought.
“These are fine herbal teas and wellness elixirs. I confess I’m no expert myself, but my mother handpicked them just for you. She insisted they would do wonders for your health.”