?Chapter 85:


    “I’m just looking out for you. You’ll be hungry until lunch!”


    Eric overheard their entire conversation. He thought to himself that if Ernest were here, he wouldn’t let Linda go hungry.


    He looked over at Hadley, who was still waiting, and called out, “I’ll get more for you!”


    With that, he hurried after Linda.


    “Linda!”


    “What?” Linda turned around, puzzled. “What is it?”


    “Here.” Eric handed her the bag. “You shouldn’t skip breakfast. You need to take better care of yourself.”


    “This—” Linda hesitated, reluctant to ept it. “What about Hadley?”


    “Hadley?” Eric shrugged. “There are other donuts. I’ll find something else for her. She won’t be left hungry.”


    “Then—”


    “Just take them.”


    Eric ced the bag in her hand.


    “Alright,” Linda conceded, a smile appearing. “I won’t argue then. I’m in a hurry, so I must go.”


    “Okay.”


    As Linda walked away, Eric turned back to Hadley.


    “I’ll get more. I’ll queue up again—”


    “There’s no need.” Hadley spoke up firmly. “Did you forget? You just bought thest three paczki.”


    Eric’s expression darkened, irritation evident in his voice. “They have other options. Come on! They’re all donuts! You’re just being difficult now.”


    Hadley paused momentarily.


    She then chuckled quietly to herself.


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    Eric really had some nerve with his double standards. Linda could be picky about her food, and that was eptable. But when it came to Hadley, he called her difficult.


    Had he forgotten that those donuts he just gave Linda were meant to be Hadley’s thank-you gift for staying up with N?


    As Eric’s words left his mouth, he sensed his own mistake, difort flickering in his eyes.


    Yet, disying vulnerability was not in Eric’s nature, especially not in front of Hadley.


    He wasmitted to his stance once he dered it.


    Eric’s tone was resolute, bordering on defiant. “So, are you going to eat or not?”


    Hadley perceived his growing impatience. She sighed internally, preferring to avoid any conflict.


    She responded affirmatively, “Yes, I’d like to eat.”


    Eric’s expression rxed into a faint smirk as he softened his approach. “What vor would you like?”


    “Anything is fine.”


    Hadley had only wished for paczki, but they were sold out, and now she’d just have to take whatever Eric had chosen for her—just like how things used to be between them.


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