?Chapter 152:


    “Hadley!”


    Looking up, Hadley’s smile blossomed. “Oh, it’s you!”


    Eric squinted at the neer—a slender, average-looking guy who rolled in on a bike. Hadley was smiling at him? Did she know this guy? What was their story?


    The guy, shaken by Eric’smanding presence, swallowed hard and set the bag back on the ground.


    “And that too,” Eric added, nodding toward the flour sack still resting on the guy’s shoulder. “Put it down.”


    “Alright,” the grocery store owner responded with a quick nod, not sparing another thought.


    Meanwhile, Hadley stood frozen,pletely thrown off by what had just happened.


    Eric turned to her abruptly, his gaze sharp and impatient. “Why are you just standing there? Pay for the flour already!”


    “Huh? Oh—okay,” Hadley stammered, fumbling to find her wallet. “Just a second.”


    Eric’s gaze darkened as he noticed the store owner sneaking nces at Hadley. Was she really this oblivious? How could she not pick up on it? Wasn’t it obvious to her what was going on?


    “What’s taking so long?” His voice cut through the moment, growing harsher. Something as simple as finding her wallet shouldn’t be taking this long.


    “There,” Hadley said, handing over the cash. “All set.”


    “No, it’s nothing…” The owner’s gaze flickered toward Eric, hesitation marking his words. “Hadley, he, uh, he is…”


    “Shouldn’t you be on your way?” Eric interjected, his cold, piercing stare cutting through the tension like a de.


    The owner tensed, his resolve crumbling in an instant. He knew better than to press further. “Ah, well… Hadley, I’ll get going then…”


    “Alright, take care.” Hadley gave him an awkward little wave.


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    “What are you staring at?”


    Eric’s patience snapped, his voice edged with irritation. What was so fascinating? And that lollipop in Hadley’s mouth had been driving him up the wall.


    Before she could react, Eric reached over, plucked it from her lips, and…


    He tossed it straight into the roadside gutter.


    Hadley stared at him, stunned. “What is wrong with you?”


    “Why are you yelling?”


    Eric had reached his limit. Some random man handed her candy, and she just ate it without a second thought? Now that it was gone, at least he felt a sense of relief.


    His eyes locked onto Hadley’s. “Cheap candy. I bet it tastes just as cheap. You’re not allowed to eat stuff like that.”


    What? Hadley couldn’t find the words to respond. Did she ever ask him to try it? And what did the taste of the candy have to do with him?


    Watching her fume in frustration only soured Eric’s mood further. “Who was that guy? What’s he to you? Are you seriously upset just because I threw out the lollipop he gave you?”


    “What are you even talking about?” Hadley blinked, baffled. “He owns the grocery store nearby where I buy things from. He was just being nice and gave me candy, and you tossed it like it was nothing. Am I supposed to thank you for that?”


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