Chapter 466
“What’s the matter?”
“Hadley, Denver’s been in an accident,” Eric explained, his voice firm despite the circumstances. “He’s in surgery now. Would you like to come over?”
The name “Denver” sent a shock through Hadley. She gripped her phone tighter, unable to respond immediately. The urgency of the situation was clear—she needed to be there.
Meanwhile, Eric ended the call with a weary smile. Could her silence mean more than just concern? She hadn’t even hung up properly…
Hadley made her appearance.
Wilma erupted upon seeing her. “Why are you here? Your presence has brought nothing but trouble for Denver! He should be safely in Srixby, not lying here injured, if not for you!”
Hadley remained motionless, absorbing the fury.
“Leave this place!” Wilma’s accusatory finger was nearly in Hadley’s face.
Eric’s timely intervention was the only thing preventing a physical altercation. “Mrs. Moran,” Eric said, his voice laced with gravity, “The extent of Denver’s injuries isn’t fully known yet. Suppose… just suppose he asks for her?”
Wilma abruptly stopped her rant.
The possibility hung in the air—could she deny her son his last wish if it came to that?
“Ah.”
Wilma’s hand flew to her mouth, despair seeping into her tone.
Eric didn’t let up. “And let’s not forget, Mrs. Moran, the role you played in this. Your actions are why Denver is in this condition in the first place.”
Wilma’s expression faltered, her complexion turning ghostly.
Muttering only partially, she finally conceded, “Alright, she can stay.”
Eric exhaled, relieved, and focused on Hadley.
“Did she hurt you?” he asked with concern.
Hadley stepped back, avoiding his touch, her gaze fixed upwards as if lost in another world.
“It seems whenever someone loves me, they suffer… My mother was gone when I was little, my grandmother passed when I was fifteen, and now Denver…”
Her voice was a mix of resignation and distant reflection.
Eric’s brow creased with worry. “Hadley, you shouldn’t think like that.”
But Hadley seemed lost in her thoughts, barely aware of his presence. “It’s always been this way… no one has escaped pain once they step into my life.”
“Hadley…”
She shut her eyes tightly, blocking out the world, wrapped in her solitude. Somewhere in her thoughts, she remembered Joy, another soul that loved her deeply.
Hadley wondered what she might have done to deserve such fate. Was she undeserving of love, or was there some hidden sin for which the universe made those closest to her pay?
As the evening progressed, the air turned brisk.
Eric, noticing the cold, took off his jacket and placed it over Hadley’s shoulders before she could decline.
The wait was agonizing, but finally, the surgeon emerged.
“How did the surgery go?” Wilma approached the doctor with urgency.
“He’s stable and will be moved to a general room shortly,” the doctor replied.
Wilma’s tension dissolved into tears of relief. “Oh, thank you!” she exclaimed, her relief evident.