Chapter 10 Unreasonable Favoritism

Hadley stiffened suddenly. She knew Eric was alluding to an incident from four years

earlier…

Indeed, in his perspective, she remained deeply flawed.

Hadley gave a small smile, and then gently pulled her arm back, quietly going along with what they wanted.

“I admit, it was my own carelessness.”

Nyla exhaled a worried sigh. “How could you be so careless? Introducing you is now a dilemma. It’s not merely about people misjudging my oversight. It also comes across as disrespectful. How do you plan to mingle with them now?”

She then addressed Eric. “Isn’t there a spare dress for her? This attire isn’t suitable.”

“Nyla.”

Before Eric could offer a solution, Hadley intervened with a reassuring smile. “It’s alright. If it complicates things, let’s skip the introductions.”

“What?” Nyla’s confusion was evident. “How can we overlook introductions at your own welcome home party?”

Not only Nyla, but Eric and Linda also gave Hadley bewildered looks, their expressions filled with curiosity.

Hadley paid no mind to their stares and offered Nyla a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it. Your generosity in arranging this event is more than enough for me. The finer details aren’t important.”

“But…”

Hadley noticed Nyla’s lingering concern and reassured her further. “There will be other opportunities.”

That seemed to resolve the matter.

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Chapter 10 Unreasonable Favoritism

Nyla took Hadley’s hand gently and gave it a comforting pat. “I’m so sorry things unfold like this.”

“Please, there’s no need for apologies. I’m quite alright.”

As she withdrew her hand, Hadley insisted, “The guests shouldn’t be kept waiting Go ahead without me. I’m not quite dressed for the occasion.”

Nyla exhaled a resigned sigh, torn but accepting.

“Look after yourself, and let’s chat later.”

“Of course.”

“Nyla.” With a warm smile, Linda looped her arm through Nyla’s. “Don’t be upset. Now that Hadley’s here, she’ll have plenty of time to spend with you. Why don’t I accompany you this evening?”

“Linda.” With a chuckle, Nyla affectionately squeezed Linda’s hand. “I love you too. Both of you are like granddaughters to me.”

They shared a laugh and moved on.

Eric initially followed but paused after a few paces, turning to look back at Hadley.

He observed her retreating figure from afar.

Her silhouette appeared solitary, prompting a frown from Eric… Had he been too harsh?

“Eric?”

Linda realized he was lagging behind and turned to see him staring at Hadley from afar.

She bit her lip slightly. “Did my earlier words upset you?”

“No.” Eric reassured her as he met her gaze. “You were protecting Grandma from worry. You acted appropriately. Why would I hold that against you?”

Linda’s face lit up with relief. “I appreciate your understanding. Shall we?”

“Sure.”

Hadley found herself at a secluded table, surrounded by strangers. Not recognizing anyone suited her just fine–she preferred solitude anyway.

her expectations for a quiet evening were quickly

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took Hadley’s hand gearly and grow be a comforting par Tim so

like this”

need to

“The gases shouldn’t be kept waiting, Go sheed

resigned sigh, torn

and let’s chat

“Of course.”

warm smile, Linda looped her arm through Nyla’s, “Don’t be upset. Now that Hadley’s here, she’ll have plenty of time to spend

squeezed Linda’s hand. I love you too. Both of you are like granddaughters

laugh and moved

paused after a few

retreating

prompting a frown from Eric… Had he been too

“Eric?”

realized he was lagging behind and turned

bit her lip slightly. “Did my earlier words upset

her as he met her gaze. “You were protecting Grandma

lit up with relief. “I appreciate your understanding.

“Sure.”

secluded table, surrounded by strangers. Not recognizing anyone suited her just fine–she preferred solitude

for a quiet

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10

whispered and glanced at her attire

“Who is that?”

appropriate for someone dressed like that to

murmurs. She hadn’t quite satisfied

was

soup plate with both hands and savored a hearty

“Unbelievable!”

“How rude!”

“We should leave.”

with looks

table, Hadley maintained a serene expression. The returning silence was

welcome relief.

one of those girls have a change of mind and

saw Eric positioning himself at the table, his hand resting on

faced her.

Did she do something to upset him

you

her plate. It was piled with

recalled her previously more

was uncertain about his reasons for approaching her. Perhaps it was driven by a sense

circumstances had changed. This event was meant to

hadn’t even been introduced properly to

evening has certainly been eventful. Linda has only recently entered the entertainment industry. It’s been a challenging journey for

His voice faded away.

grasped the situation. Was he

to say the

a slight smile, Hadley replied, “I’m aware. I overheard

Eric’s discomfort. He eventually pierced the awkward

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Chapter 11 kneemable faptism

a light dude escaped Hadley, finding his worry somewhat

that audiret hostility was a trait bound

further? Their relationship was a thing

thought, Hadley offered a reassuring smile and a shake of her head. “No. You said

Her composure remained intact

cause for concern. “As

lingered still, Hadley voiced her confusion. “Shouldn’t you

her way of

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