Chapter 301
He then returned to where he had left Hadley.
Finding her still in the same rigid stance, Denver said with gentle assurance, “He’s gone now. You can relax; there’s no need to be afraid anymore.”
After a moment’s pause, Hadley stepped out from her frozen spot, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, trying to calm her nerves. With a slight, embarrassed smile, she said, “I’m sorry for all the trouble.”
“Oh, it was no trouble at all,” Denver replied, waving off her apology. “Helping out is what friends are for, right? How are you feeling now? Can I drive you home?”
Given the difficulty of hailing a taxi in the area and considering her unsettled state, he felt uneasy about leaving her alone.
Denver caught Hadley’s hesitation and frowned. “Don’t even think about saying no. Friends help each other—that’s just how it works, right?”
“Sure thing,” Hadley acknowledged, offering a thankful nod.
“Off we go,” replied Denver warmly, gesturing towards the car. Settled inside, Denver inquired about their destination. “Need directions?”
“Head to West Twelfth Alley,” she instructed.
“Right,” replied Denver, his interest piqued further by their destination but respectfully restrained.
Reclining, Hadley closed her eyes, gradually soothing her nerves and restoring her peace.
The car came to a gentle halt on Mayfield Road.
“Looks like we’ve arrived. Cars can’t go through up ahead.”
Opening her eyes, Hadley seemed revitalized, her usual composure restored.
“I appreciate it,” she said quietly, stretching to retrieve her bag from the backseat.
“Hold on a moment.”
Ⱡ𝗮𝗍𝙚𝕤𝖙 ς𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝗲𝖗𝗌 ɢ𝗮𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀․𝚌𝗈𝗆
Hadley paused at the sound of Denver’s voice.
“What’s wrong?” Hadley frowned in confusion. “Did something happen?”
Denver hesitated, his gaze fixed on her. After a brief pause, he finally spoke up.
“I don’t mean to pry, but why are you so afraid of Eric?” His throat tightened as he forced out his next words. “Aren’t you two back together?”
“Back… together?”
Hadley’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Why would you think that?”
Denver stayed silent for a moment before answering honestly. “That’s what Eric told me.”
Before she could respond, he let out an uneasy chuckle. “Did you two have a fight? Arguments between couples are…”
She cut him off abruptly, pressing her lips into a thin line.
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “It’s not a fight. We aren’t back together because we were never together in the first place!”
Denver was caught off guard.
What was going on?
“You’re not back together?” His brows furrowed. “Then… why would Eric say that?”