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.

he looked–she wasn’t

and dialed her

ringtone echoed immediately.

the living room sofa–where Hadley’s

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

nothing but

hands clenched into fists, frustration and regret colliding in his chest.

phone, without a coat–how would

moment, fingers pressing against his

He had lost control. He

Denver… nothing had happened between them last night.

would have known the

hadn’t

turned into something

these things had never mattered to him. But with Hadley, every little thing got under his skin. Every look, every word.

he wasn’t as good as

here

about one thing–he really was a bastard.

only one

racing. Pulling up the surveillance footage, he fast- forwarded until he spotted Hadley. She had left less than

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footage showed her stepping out of the house, wrapped only in a thin

clenched at the sight. Damn it. Where could she

meant there was only one

out of the

“Hadley, Hadley!”

pounded on the door of her apartment, his voice raw,

murmured, pressing his forehead against the doorframe. His voice was

many times he knocked, no matter how many

furious. He had

are you out here

laced with irritation. “Quit making a scene! No one lives there anymore–who are

What?

fingers curled at his

huffed, folding his arms. “Tenant moved out weeks ago.

neighbor shot him a smirk, sizing him up. “Guess you two weren’t as close as you

The man door shut in

didn’t live here anymore. She was

vision dimmed for a moment, his frustration

Hadley

property management,

been retrieved. His gaze locked onto the screen. There she was–Hadley–hurrying out of his

the license plate.

“Phillips!”

Flynn.” He didn’t need to ask–he already knew what Eric wanted. “I’ll

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

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in Srixby long,

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