Chapter 334
Pressing her lips together, she looked at him. “Why didn’t you just let that woman have it? Weren’t you worried people would think you were rude?”
Denver paused before letting out a chuckle. “I did feel bad for her, but more importantly, I want you to have them. Why should I put a stranger ahead of you?”
Hadley’s breath caught, and her eyes turned misty. For the first time, someone had put her first.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Denver’s eyes flicked to Hadley’s as tears welled up in her eyes and shimmered at the corners. “You’re not choking, are you?” A thought struck him. Nuts could easily get stuck in someone’s throat if not chewed properly. “Do you need water?” He fumbled for a solution. “I have a water bottle in the car. I’ll go grab it!” He started to take a step but then hesitated. “Come with me. It’ll be faster if we go together!”
Hadley let out a soft laugh, wiping at her eyes. “Relax. I’m not choking.”
“Are you sure?” Denver studied her face, his gaze lingering on the redness around her eyes. “Then what is it?”
She picked up a cashew and popped it into her mouth. “They’re just… really good.”
“Huh?” Denver blinked, momentarily thrown off. But as he caught the bright smile on her face, his own expression softened. He had a feeling he knew the real reason behind those tears.
“Hadley, no matter what, there will always be someone who cares about you. I don’t know if I’m the first, but I know I won’t be the last.” A tightness formed in her chest, and for a moment, she struggled to hold back tears.
She drew in a deep breath and then broke into a wide smile, nodding with conviction. “Yes, I believe that too.”
Maybe there would be more people coming along and treating her kindly in the future, or maybe not. Either way, she would never forget this moment when she was indeed, genuinely cherished.
A few days later, something unexpected happened.
Hadley spent the entire day practicing in the dance studio. In just two days, she would have to prove her progress to Blanche. If she passed, the troupe would officially begin rehearsals.
By the time the clock hit a quarter past six, she changed into her own clothes, grabbed her bag, and hurried out.
“Hadley, want to grab dinner with us tonight?” A few colleagues in the dressing room called out.
“Wish I could, but I have to be somewhere.” She shot a quick glance at the time. There was a scene she had to film that evening, and being late wasn’t an option. “Have fun, everyone. See you all tomorrow!” With that, she dashed out of the room.
“Oh, Hadley… What’s she always so busy with? She never shows up to any of our gatherings.”
One of the girls, Alita Reed, scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. “She just showed up out of nowhere. Ms. Nicolson handpicked her because of her so-called talent. Why would she waste time with us?”
The moment Hadley’s special recruitment came up, the room buzzed with conversation.
“I heard she used to dance with Red. People say she’s actually really good.”
“Yeah, I watched her during practice. She’s got serious talent.”