Chapter 470
“This is for you, little one.” Eric passed the strawberry milk to Joy. “I need to leave now, goodbye.”
Joy took it gratefully, holding it carefully with both hands. “Thanks! Bye-bye, sir!”
“Take care,” Eric responded, waving as he turned towards the gate.
Once on the plane, he pulled out his phone to check it.
It had been some time since he last saw Hadley, back at the hospital. The last WhatsApp message he had sent her lingered on the screen: “Hadley, would you consider being with me?” There was no response from her end.
Upon arriving back in Srixby, Hadley dedicated the next two days to making Joy comfortable.
Joy already had a nanny waiting—Melba Hammond, a warm-hearted woman in her forties who quickly gained Joy’s trust with her gentle voice and attentive manner.
Not long after, Hadley’s phone rang, and Mathias was on the other end.
He had good news for her. “I found you a specialist. He’s one of my friends from med school. I’ve filled him in on Joy’s situation, so you can relax—he’ll handle everything.”
Hadley felt a profound sense of relief.
“I can’t thank you enough, Dr. Williams.”
“It’s merely part of my responsibilities.”
His voice softened further, revealing genuine concern beyond professional boundaries. “Remember, if anything comes up, just call me. I’ll be here for you.”
“I really appreciate it.”
A brief silence followed before Mathias cautiously broached the sensitive subject again. “Have you reconsidered contacting Joy’s father? Haven’t spoken with him yet? Honestly, another child would be your best option. Joy’s young. A full sibling would dramatically boost her chances—over ninety percent, in fact. She will have a real chance to live a completely normal life…” a world of tales
This wasn’t the first time Mathias had mentioned this possibility.
Yet each time, Hadley had firmly refused.
“I’m only offering this advice as a friend,” Mathias gently said. “It’s your safest and surest path forward.”
A thoughtful silence stretched between them before Hadley eventually answered, “I know. Thanks, Dr. Williams.”
After sorting everything out at home, Hadley knew it was time to return to the stage.
Ever since what happened in Blathe, she had stepped in for her injured colleagues, turning her into a headline attraction with performances scheduled almost nightly.
That night, while Hadley carefully applied her makeup backstage, several crew members walked in, beaming, their arms full of enormous flower baskets.
“Hadley, any idea where we should put these?”
From their playful smiles, it was obvious every single bouquet belonged to her. Smiling lightly in surprise, Hadley motioned toward a free spot.
“Just place them over there. Are those all really for me?”
Receiving flowers was a common gesture in her profession, but today it bordered on overwhelming.
“All yours.” A member of the crew laughed softly. “Courtesy of Mr. Flynn. He probably had no clue what kind you prefer, so he went a bit overboard and sent one of everything.”
Mr. Flynn?