?Chapter 192:


    Hadley’s expression shifted to one of confusion. “Your stance? What exactly did you do?”


    Eric cleared his throat, avoiding a direct answer. Instead, he gave her a pointed look. “Quiet now. You’ve just regained your ability to speak, and here you are, already chattering away?”


    Hadley pressed her lips together and opted to remain silent.


    The rest of their journey passed in quiet. Upon reaching West 12th Street, Eric didn’t apany her upstairs. He simply waited downstairs, watching until the light in her apartment window flickered on.


    Just as he was about to drive away, the world around him suddenly plunged into darkness.


    What was happening?


    Everything around Eric was engulfed in darkness, visibility reduced to nothing.


    His gaze shifted towards Hadley’s apartment, noting theplete ckness that surrounded her modest living space as well.


    For a moment, Eric wondered if Hadley might be frightened, considering she was alone.


    Not willing to wait, Eric activated the shlight on his phone and moved toward the building.


    He quickly ascended the stairs, taking two or three at a time, reaching the fifth floor in no time.


    Inside, Hadley was rummaging through a drawer for candles, using her phone’s light to guide her.


    The sound of knocking startled her, and she paused, looking toward the door.


    She hurried over to open it. “Who’s there?”


    “It’s me!”


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    As the door creaked open, Eric’s eyes met hers in the dim light. “Do you often have visitors? Besides the grocery store guy I sawst time—who elsees around?”


    Still a bit startled, Hadley shook her head. “Nobody else.”


    Eric let out a soft chuckle, his expression unreadable.


    He strode past her, his long strides bringing him directly to the sofa where he sat down. “So, what’s the situation here?”


    Hadley sighed. “The power’s gone out.”


    “A ckout?” Eric raised an eyebrow. “Here?”


    “Can you believe Srixby still experiences ckouts?” Hadley muttered, her tone a mix of disbelief and frustration.


    “That’s just how things are,” Hadley said. “This part of town is quite old. The electrical infrastructure is outdated, which leads to frequent repairs and disruptions.”


    For Eric, who was raised in a more affluent area, such realities were beyond his usual experiences.


    “This neighborhood is really run-down…” Eric grumbled.


    Visibly annoyed, he then asked, “Why do you have to stay in a ce like this?”


    Hadley chose not to directly respond to his criticism. Shifting the focus, she asked, “Did you need something bying up here?”


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