Chapter 472
The stranger glanced awkwardly at Eric. “I—I didn’t realize you were with someone. Sorry to interrupt.”
“Hmm?”
Eric raised an eyebrow, clearly pleased by the “boyfriend” comment. “Goodnight.”
“Ah, sure! Bye!”
Embarrassed, the man quickly retreated, nearly tripping over himself.
Once the stranger disappeared from sight, Eric turned to Hadley, displeasure lingering in his tone. “Tell me honestly. If I hadn’t intervened, would you have gone with him?”
Hadley met his gaze with a cool, half-hearted smile.
“Should that concern you?”
She turned and walked down the stairs.
“Hadley!”
In his frustration, Eric caught her arm and yanked her close, his breath caressing her skin.
“Answer me—do you expect me to keep waiting? How much longer will you have me wait?”
“Are you losing your patience?”
Hadley stood her ground, seeing no value in resisting. “I never asked you to wait. You don’t have to—”
“But I must.”
Worried she might tell him to leave, Eric quickly cut her off. “I’ll wait as long as you wish me to.”
He felt slightly aggrieved and added, “I’m not impatient, alright? You’re imagining things.”
Hadley shrugged him off and resumed her walk.
“Come on, get in the car. I’ll drive you home.” Eric knew better than to expect her immediate compliance. He had come solely to see her.
True to routine, he stopped the car at Mayfield Road’s entrance.
“Hadley.”
Before she could exit, Eric held on to her. “Will you be heading home this weekend? Grandma is aware of the Blathe incident. I assured her you were unharmed, yet she remains concerned.”
Hadley acknowledged with a nod. “Alright, I get it.”
Pleased, Eric beamed. “Then I’ll be there waiting.”
Hadley neither confirmed nor denied, simply stepping out of the car and walking away. Her new place was not far from Mayfield Road.
Once she reached her apartment, the sound of Joy’s cries greeted her immediately. “Waaah…”
“Joy!”
Hearing that, Hadley felt a surge of panic and quickly made her way to Joy’s room.
“Mommy!” Crying, Joy leaped into her mother’s embrace, clearly distressed. Melba gave a weary sigh and explained, “She’s taken her medicine. It seemed fine at first, but then she began to throw up.”
Cradling her daughter, Hadley felt her heart breaking apart.
They had recently switched locations, consulted new doctors, and altered their treatment approaches. The doctor had warned that Joy might struggle to adjust.
Now, they were facing a complication.