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.

expectations for a quiet

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gearly and grow be a comforting

like this”

to apologies. I’m

gases shouldn’t be kept waiting, Go sheed without me. I’m not

exhaled a resigned sigh, torn

after yourself, and let’s chat

“Of course.”

Nyla’s, “Don’t be upset. Now that Hadley’s here, she’ll have plenty of time to

affectionately squeezed Linda’s hand. I love you too. Both

shared a laugh

followed but paused after a few paces, turning to look back

retreating

prompting a frown from

“Eric?”

behind and turned to see him staring

slightly. “Did my earlier words upset

“You were protecting Grandma from worry. You acted appropriately. Why would I

up with relief. “I appreciate your understanding.

“Sure.”

herself at a secluded table, surrounded by strangers. Not recognizing anyone suited her just fine–she

a quiet

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Chapter 10

whispered and glanced

“Who is that?”

dressed like that to be

eat, tuning out the murmurs. She hadn’t quite

was

the soup plate with both hands

“Unbelievable!”

“How rude!”

“We should leave.”

with looks

Hadley maintained a serene expression. The returning silence was

welcome relief.

back. Did one of those girls have a

at the

faced her.

she do

you need?” Hadley

her plate. It was piled with

recalled her previously

his reasons for approaching her. Perhaps it was

of Hadley, circumstances had changed. This event was meant to

Hadley hadn’t even been introduced properly to their

eventful. Linda has only

His voice faded away.

grasped the situation. Was he attempting

struggled to say the simple word “sorry” directly. What was the

smile, Hadley replied, “I’m aware. I overheard the

demeanor seemed to deepen Eric’s discomfort. He eventually pierced the awkward silence. “You aren’t upset,

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Chapter 11 kneemable faptism

blink and a light dude escaped Hadley, finding

was a trait bound

further? Their relationship was

smile and a shake of her head. “No. You said

Her composure remained intact

no cause for concern. “As long as you’re

voiced her confusion.

way of dismissing

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