Chapter 381
Did her feelings for Denver run that deep?
Eric’s heart tightened as he grasped the steering wheel harder. As they approached Flynn Mansion, he pulled up in front of the grand entrance.
Hadley exited the car and walked forward without looking back. Watching her retreating figure, Eric hesitated briefly before finally pulling out his phone to call Denver.
Nyla presided over the dinner table, flanked by Ernest and Eric on one side, and Hadley on the other.
Linda was still at work and hadn’t made it home yet.
Nyla kept adding food to Hadley’s plate. “Eat up. You look like you’ve lost weight again.”
“Nyla,” Hadley responded with a gentle smile. “I need to maintain a certain weight for my dance roles. Gaining too much could slow me down.”
“Of course, of course!” Nyla exclaimed, her face lighting up. “A great dancer needs to watch their figure at all times!”
At that moment, the doorbell chimed insistently.
“I’ve got it!” The maid hurried to the door. Then her tone turned confused. “Mr. Moran?”
“Hadley!”
Hearing the noise, Hadley set down her fork and quickly stepped outside.
“Hadley!”
“Denver? What are you doing here?”
Realizing it wasn’t exactly appropriate to talk right there at the doorstep, Hadley motioned toward the garden, and the two of them moved out of earshot.
“Hadley.” Denver lowered his gaze, his voice thick with guilt.
“This is all my fault. I never thought my mom would come looking for you. Whatever she said, don’t let it get to you. Please don’t be upset…”
“Don’t worry,” Hadley replied, her tone calm and steady, much more so than his.
“I’m not upset. Mrs. Moran was just telling the truth…”
“Hadley?” Denver’s eyes widened in shock, a sense of dread settling in his chest.
“Denver, listen…” Hadley sighed softly, her voice heavy with resignation. “Your mother was right. That’s why I turned you down the other day. From now on, we shouldn’t see each other anymore…”
Before she could finish, Denver interrupted, his handsome face twisted in turmoil.
“Hadley, please, don’t say that!”
He stepped closer, his voice desperate. “I didn’t handle things well. I never expected my mom to… Hadley, I really like you! It’s rare to find someone who feels right, and I don’t want to give up just like that. I can’t give up. Please, don’t shut me out like this, okay?”
Hadley shook her head, unable to agree.
“Listen, parents look out for their children and often have their own good reasons for disapproving of a relationship. Most relationships that try to survive their objections don’t end well…”
“But you said ‘most’!”
Denver’s voice was filled with urgency, rising in pitch.
“That doesn’t mean all of them,” he argued, his eyes pleading. “How can we know if we don’t give it a shot?”