Chapter 326
With a significant look towards Danica, Linda dismissed her curtly.
“Now, please leave.”
“Thank you!” Danica’s voice cracked, her nerves frayed.
“Wait a moment!”
Eric’s command halted her. “You’re not going anywhere yet.”
Marshall intervened with a light tap on Eric’s shoulder. “She’s fine, Eric. Let’s not escalate this.”
Eric snorted dismissively, unwilling to drop the matter so easily; his anger remained unexpressed. Linda caught Eric’s glance and shot a cold look towards Hadley, understanding that Eric’s outrage was less about her and more an outlet for his frustrations.
Eric glanced at Hadley before addressing Danica sharply. “Denver asked you to apologize to Hadley. Were you not listening?”
Danica stood there, stunned, her mouth hanging open.
“Now!” Eric’s anger seemed to peak at that moment.
“I will apologize,” Danica muttered reluctantly.
She faced Hadley, her demeanor softened. “Hadley, I apologize. I spoke without thinking earlier. Please forgive me.”
Hadley’s discomfort was evident. This was the first occasion she witnessed Danica submitting so openly.
“It’s fine,” Hadley replied, trying to ease the tension.
Seizing her opportunity, Danica appealed to Eric. “Mr. Flynn, may I go now?”
“Get lost!” Eric dismissed her with a flick of his hand, his expression tense.
Danica hastened away, her spirits crushed.
Watching the scene, Hadley reasoned that Eric’s sour mood stemmed from Linda’s accidental injury. She recognized that, despite his effort, she didn’t need him to stand up for her.
“Guys…” Barrie, silent until this point, looked at his friends with a puzzled expression. “How did Hadley end up as Denver’s girlfriend?” He pondered further. “Doesn’t Eric want to try to win her back?”
Helping Hadley get into Blanche’s troupe had led Barrie to learn that the dancer they all admired from Galant was none other than Hadley herself.
Eric had exerted considerable effort to make this happen, possibly aiming to revive past affections. Yet, here was Hadley, introduced as Denver’s girlfriend.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Eric’s response carried a sarcastic edge as he faced Barrie. “Even Marshall was in the dark. How could I, her former husband, possibly know?”
“Hey,” Marshall chimed in, genuinely unaware. “I was clueless. It’s intriguing to think about how Denver’s parents might react to this news.”
At that moment, Denver released Hadley’s hand and motioned for everyone to gather around. “What are you waiting for? Come over here.”
As they gathered, Denver, appearing somewhat nervous, looked at Hadley. “I’d like everyone to meet my girlfriend, Hadley.”