hapter 176 She Had Been

All Alone

The car was steeped in silence.

Eric’s gaze dropped to the woman in his arms. Hadley’s eyes were tightly shut, her face turned away as if refusing to acknowledge him. But the redness at the corners of her eyes–still damp with unshed tears- betrayed her.

Was it just a physical reaction? Or… was she crying for someone else?

The thought sent a chill through him, and his expression darkened.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth.

Releasing her, he stepped out first, walking around to the passenger side before gathering her into his arms. The moment he lifted her, he felt the faintest tremor run through her body.

Eric’s frown deepened. “What’s wrong?”

Hadley shook her head, silent.

She didn’t have to say it–he already knew. He had lost control earlier, had let his emotions override his restraint. He had been too rough. Did he hurt her?

His arms tightened around her as his pace quickened, carrying her from the garage straight into the house. Entering the master bedroom, he gently laid her down on the bed.

Reaching out, he brushed aside her disheveled hair, but–Hadley turned her face away, avoiding his touch.

Eric froze. His hand hovered for a moment before he withdrew it.

Finally, his voice broke through, quieter this time. “Rest. I’ll run you a bath.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode toward the bathroom.

The moment she heard the water start running, Hadley’s eyes snapped open. A mist of unshed tears blurred her vision, leaving her gaze red and puffy.

Afraid he might come back at any second, she threw off the covers, slipped out of bed, and rushed straight for

the door.

By the time Eric returned, a fresh set of pajamas in hand, he was completely unaware of what had just happened.

“Hadley, the bath is-

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Chapter 176 She Had Been All Alone

He sat down at the edge of the bed, reaching to pull back the blanket. But the moment his hand brushed against it, an odd sensation gripped him.

Something felt off. Frowning, he yanked the blanket back–Empty.

His chest tightened.

“Hadley?”

Eric shot to his feet, scanning the room. His heart pounded as he checked the bathroom, the closet, the balcony -nothing.

A surge of panic crashed through him as he bolted out of the bedroom, tearing through Silver Villas like a man possessed.

matter where he looked–she wasn’t there.

grabbed his phone and dialed her

ringtone echoed

locking onto the living room

of the room revealed more–her coat still hung by the entrance, her shoes neatly in place. The only

out in nothing but a thin sweater

hands clenched into fists, frustration and regret

phone, without a coat–how would

fingers pressing against his temples as his

had lost control. He knew that.

happened

have

blinded by jealousy, he hadn’t been able

had turned into something else entirely.

lost control. He wasn’t even sure why. Years ago, these things had never mattered to him. But with Hadley,

insisting… that he wasn’t as good as

here

had been right about one thing–he really was a bastard. But

there was only one

mind racing. Pulling up the surveillance footage, he fast- forwarded until

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out of the house, wrapped only in a thin sweater, her arms crossed tightly over her

heart clenched at the sight. Damn it. Where could she have gone?

Srixby, which meant there was only one

Eric grabbed his keys and tore out of

“Hadley, Hadley!”

of her apartment, his voice raw, his breath

sorry, okay?” Eric murmured, pressing his forehead against the doorframe. His voice was low,

matter how many times he knocked, no matter how many times he called her name–Nothing.

still furious. He had expected that. But still—

you out here making so

open his door, his expression laced with irritation. “Quit

What?

His fingers curled at his sides. How

folding his arms. “Tenant moved out weeks ago. Place has been empty ever since.”

up. “Guess you two weren’t

door shut in

slightly beneath him. Hadley didn’t live here

dimmed for a moment, his frustration mounting.

Hadley

property

made it back to Silver Villas, the surveillance footage had already been retrieved. His

captured part of the license plate. Just

“Phillips!”

what Eric wanted. “I’ll have someone look into it right

car’s color, model, and partial plate number–that gave them something

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20:48

hadn’t been back in Srixby long,

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