Chapter 266
“Eric!”
Hadley’s voice halted him, sharp and clear.
“Yes?” He looked back at her, his face a mask of confusion. What was she trying to say? What did she need from him?
Hadley’s mouth quivered as she wrestled with her feelings.
She fully recognized that training under Blanche could set her on a path to a bright future. For any dancer, the honor of gracing a prestigious stage far surpassed the fleeting lights of nightclub performances.
Hadley had no influential contacts; without Eric’s assistance, a position in Blanche’s troupe would have remained out of reach. This was an important opportunity for her career, one too valuable to ignore.
Yet, it was Eric who had presented her with this chance. Why now?
The very man who had seemed to ignore her for so long was now handing her a lifeline. She knew she should feel thankful. But then, there were the past four years to consider. What should she do now?
With a deep breath, Hadley clenched her hands. “Thank you.”
“There’s no need,” Eric said, his smile slight. “Don’t mention it.”
After days of effort, he had finally received a kind remark from her.
“But,” Hadley quickly added, “appreciating your help doesn’t mean I agree to everything. I stand by what I said. We’re finished.”
Eric felt the impact of her words as if doused with cold water. “Why?”
“Do you truly not understand?” Hadley’s gaze fell, illuminated softly by the glow of a nearby streetlight.
Suddenly, Eric felt a tightness in his chest.
“Are you still upset about the past four years?”
“Why shouldn’t I be?” Hadley retorted sharply.
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“Four years ago…” Eric’s expression darkened as he began, his forehead creasing. “Ernest was in a coma, and the doctors almost guaranteed he wouldn’t wake up. And Linda, she was expecting his child!”
For Eric, Ernest was more than family; he had been a mentor and a major influence in his life. Without Ernest, Eric’s current successes would have been unimaginable.
Eric felt that the world could challenge him as much as it pleased, but Ernest should have remained unscathed. Secretly, he would have preferred to be the one suffering in Ernest’s stead all those years… Hadley understood his sentiment, yet she was baffled by his lack of trust in her.
She blurted out, “Why couldn’t you just—I…” Why couldn’t he just hear her out? Why had he so easily accepted Linda’s version of the story without question?
However, she swallowed her words before they could escape.
“Why couldn’t you what?” Eric asked. “What were you going to say?”
Hadley shook her head, feeling defeated. What was the point? He hadn’t believed her four years ago. There was no reason to think he would believe her now.
Moreover, the circumstances back then had done her no favors. Linda had been found bleeding at the bottom of the stairs while Hadley stood at the top. Anyone with eyes would assume that she had pushed Linda.