Chapter 252
What?
Hadley was taken aback. What was he thinking?
How could he listen to her accusations and still offer her food?
“I won’t eat that.”
She turned her head away, setting her terms. “Not unless you allow me to return to Galant and continue my dance career.”
Eric’s hand stilled. So this was what it was all about in the end. He put the bread down and got straight to the point. “You’re not going back to Galant. It’s out of the question.”
“Why not?” Hadley tensed up. “Dancing is my job!”
“What sort of pathetic career do you call that?” Eric couldn’t care less. He dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. “You don’t need that job. Or are you suggesting that I can’t provide for you?”
Providing for her? It seemed he was not ready to give her what she truly wanted.
With her jaw set firmly, Hadley managed to say, “I’m aware of your influence, yet I’ll never consent to this arrangement.”
“Is that so?” Eric challenged her, holding her gaze with an intense look.
A tense silence fell between them, both standing their ground.
“Alright.” Eric nodded slowly. “I see your point.”
He had overheard her conversation with Nyla on the terrace, and he knew winning her back wouldn’t be easy.
And it was right that it shouldn’t be easy.
After neglecting her and being distant for so long, he knew it wouldn’t be simple words that would mend their rift.
Ready for the long haul, he was determined to win her over, no matter the effort required.
Switching his approach, he urged, “Come on, have some more. Two bites aren’t enough.” He handed her another piece of bread.
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This time, Hadley chose to ignore his gesture. She bowed her head and reached for her glass of milk, drinking it in large, determined gulps.
Eric froze. Then, lifting an eyebrow, he couldn’t help but laugh.
Following their meal, they left together.
Sebastian was at the wheel, driving Hadley to her apartment on West 12th Street first.
Eric was reluctant to let her go back to that sorry excuse of an apartment. Bringing her to live with him immediately, however, especially right after severing her ties with Galant, might be too much for her to handle right now.
He decided to let the matter rest for now.
The mere fact that she would no longer be performing onstage, away from the gazes of other men, was comforting enough to improve Eric’s mood significantly.
Upon reaching the alleyway, Eric got out of the car and escorted her to her doorstep.
With him outside and her inside, he bowed his head slightly, keeping his eyes on her. “I’m taking off now.”
Hadley remained silent, refusing even to meet his gaze.
Even though she was clearly angry, Eric remained calm. “Preventing you from dancing is actually for the best. It’s for your own good. You can’t stay in that kind of place forever.”