Chapter 26 Was It Worth It
Linda was upset by Eric’s words. What did he mean she didn’t understand Hadley?
Or did he mean to say he did?
To the extent that he’d sacrificed his meal to find her?
However, once outside, Eric found no trace of Hadley.
Where could she have gone? With Nyla’s surgery still underway, it was unlikely she’d just leave.
Eric retrieved his phone and called Hadley’s number.
Hadley didn’t answer, but he already heard the ringtone. Suddenly, he realized the sound was close by.
Drawn by the ringtone, Eric headed toward the fire escape stairwell where he saw Hadley.
“Hello?” Hadley spoke into her phone, just as the call disconnected. “Huh? What’s happening?”
“What are you doing here?” Eric’s voice emerged unexpectedly from behind her.
Caught off guard, Hadley turned sharply, her eyes wide with surprise. “Eric, what brings you he
“It’s you I should be questioning,” Eric retorted, his expression tinged with irritation. “Why are you secluding yourself out here? Come and join me for lunch. Must I really persuade you like a child?”
“There‘
o need for that!”
“Not this again!”
Eric was growing tired of the repetition. “Hadley, is that all you can say to me? We have no idea when Grandma will be out of surgery. What if she needs you and you’ve passed out from not eating? I don’t want to deal with
that mess.”
“I don’t really need to…”
“Tell me the truth…”
Eric’s dark eyes intensified as they focused on Hadley’s face as he interrupting her. “Are you just avoiding Linda?”
What?
Hadley was taken aback. Was that his assumption?
Her silence led him to believe he was correct.
Eric’s voice, laced with a hint of sarcasm, carried through the air. “Thinking back, was it worth it? You know,
you get what you give.”
Hadley fixed her gaze on Eric, unblinking, and then abruptly questioned, “Did Linda say that?”
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19:15
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>
pondered internally if Linda actually told Eric that she was afraid
by
“Never mind…”
matter further. It
ago, Eric had unconditionally sided with Linda. Was there any chance he’d support Hadlay
beyond trying to vindicate herself at
her head.
go ahead and have lunch. I have
have you
his attention suddenly shifted to
He noticed it.
backpack with an
of the lunchbox were
were noodles accompanied by
spot anything else,
and a bit concerned. “Hadley, is that
Hadley responded, her face showing
Hadley eat so little?
it plain was an understatement.
”
diet harmful to her
more than
here. There
had suggested. Hadley
eating that little?” Eric’s frustration was
thin, a gust of
silent, her
you insist on starving yourself, fine. But remember,
suffer,
spun around and left abruptly.
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26 Was It Worth
last, he
a weak smile, sat down again, and resumed eating her now cold lunch, each bite
seemed to stick in her throat, prompting her to grab her water bottle and
the lounge, Eric reappeared, his
of food. “What happened to
about her!” Eric retorted sharply. The mere thought of
her dietary fads. Just
smile as she shook her head. “I warned you, but you wouldn’t listen. Now, come
some more.”
in the afternoon, and Nyla was transferred to a regular
briefed Eric thoroughly on the
family member should be present. We
better to
“I’ll stay!”
“I’ll stay!”
said at the same time.
mean, it’s really Mr. Flynn’s decision. If
enough.”
of you should consider staying. For one, Mr. Flynn, you might not have
in caring for an elder. Additionally, should any decisions need
made, it’s prudent for Mr. Flynn to be present.”
and Hadley for
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