Chapter 161 Just A Fair

Trade

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On Wednesday evening, Hadley arrived at the Flynn residence.

Tonight was her only free night–starting Thursday, her schedule was packed with performances through the weekend.

“Hadley, over here.”

Nyla uncorked a bottle of red wine, raising a glass in celebration of Hadley’s safe return from Blathe.

“What a relief! We’re just glad you’re back safe. I know God is watching over you!”

“Yeah, indeed.” Hadley nodded with a small smile.

Eric sighed inwardly. He was the one who had actually risked his life and saved her, yet no one seemed to acknowledge it.

He placed a hand over Hadley’s glass, firm but gentle. “Let’s skip the wine, Grandma–Hadley doesn’t drink.” He hadn’t forgotten the chaos she caused the last time she was drunk.

“A sip won’t do any harm,” Nyla countered, arching a brow at him. She reached for the bottle and poured a generous amount into Hadley’s glass. “Come on! It’s a special occasion! Besides, we’re home, so what’s the harm even if she gets a little tipsy? Don’t you think, Hadley?”

Hadley lifted her glass with a small, amused smile. “Mhm.”

Well, that was that–his interference had been pointless.

With a sigh, Eric let it go, shifting his focus to pouring the wine and making sure both women had plenty to eat. That night, only the three of them sat around the dinner table.

Ernest was at the hospital for a follow–up, undergoing a full check–up that required an overnight stay. Linda had gone with him.

By the end of the meal, Nyla was more than a little tipsy.

Concerned for her health, Eric didn’t hesitate to call her caregiver to escort her to her room.

When he turned back, his eyes landed on Hadley, still clutching her wine glass, sipping away like she had all the time in the world.

Fantastic. She was drunk too.

“That’s enough,” he said, reaching for the glass.

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Eric strode over and plucked the glass from her hand. “You’re drunk, you know that? Grandma wants you to stay the night.”

Her room was always ready–cleaned daily–so there was nothing to prepare.

“Oh, okay.”

Her easy agreement threw him off. He’d expected resistance. As she pushed off the table, she swayed on her

feet.

Pearson, are you sure you can still

head and pointed toward the front

a low chuckle. “Brilliant. Come on. I’ll take you.”

“Oh.”

resist as he guided

moment they stepped into her room, she slipped free from his grip and

“Hadley?”

she was sick. He

passed. Still nothing.

his knuckles against the door.

Not even a shuffle from

harder, his pulse quickening. “If you don’t answer, I’m opening

His jaw tightened.

find her sitting on the

kneeling. “What’s wrong? Do

and met his gaze. Then, out of nowhere, she smiled.

was no warmth in it. Eric’s stomach sank.

it

shook her head, that unreadable smile still in

Really?

she had

get you up

grabbed her arm, pulling her up.

he could help her stand, she suddenly gripped his arm and whispered, “Eric,

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be together.”

screeched to a halt.

of his own breath–the hammering in his chest–Eric might’ve thought

Had he misheard?

was the one

hadn’t imagined

lip, her

“Not a chance!”

tightened. “Hadley, you can’t take it back. I

react, he slid a hand behind her

satisfaction. “You

didn’t move. She had said it, and he had heard

room for regret? Could she

regret it?

knew this road led nowhere, yet she couldn’t turn back.

everything–even her life. So really, how

each took what they wanted–it was that

A fair trade.

curled around his arm, her touch feather–light. “Mm, okay.”

His chest tightened, pulse thundering in his ears. With one arm wrapped around her, he gently tilted her chin up with the

gaze burned into

I kiss

else existed–just her, just this. Just

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