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-

0.0%

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.

where he looked–she

his phone and dialed her

ringtone echoed immediately.

the living room sofa–where Hadley’s bag

more–her coat still hung by the entrance, her shoes

out in nothing but

and regret colliding in

without a

for a moment, fingers pressing against

He had

and Denver… nothing had happened between them last

her man–he would have known the moment he

yet, blinded by jealousy, he hadn’t been able

later, anger had turned into

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

insisting… that he wasn’t

now, here they

about one thing–he really was a bastard. But that

only one

the surveillance footage, he fast- forwarded until he spotted

21.1%

20:48

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

heart clenched at the sight. Damn it. Where could

Srixby, which meant there was only one place she could have gone–her apartment at West Twelfth Alley.

keys and tore out of the

“Hadley, Hadley!”

of her apartment, his voice raw,

against the doorframe. His voice was low, almost pleading.

matter how many times he called her

He had

you out here making so much

expression laced with irritation. “Quit making a scene!

What?

body stiffened. His fingers curled at his sides. How could that

his arms. “Tenant moved out weeks ago.

up. “Guess you two weren’t as

man door shut in Eric’s

stood motionless, the world tilting slightly beneath him. Hadley didn’t live here anymore. She was gone.

for a moment, his

could Hadley have gone?

no time–calling property management,

had already been retrieved. His gaze locked onto the screen. There

the footage only captured part of the license plate.

“Phillips!”

Mr. Flynn.” He didn’t need to ask–he already knew what Eric wanted. “I’ll have someone look into it

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

46.4%

20:48

Hadley hadn’t been back in Srixby long, and her circle was small. She

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255