?Chapter 200:


    As they spoke, the grand iron gates began to open. A sleek ck Bentley Arnage glided smoothly into the driveway.


    N sped Hadley’s hand and pulled her up. “Since we’re already on the subject, this is the perfect moment.”


    “N, I—”


    “You know I don’t take no for an answer! No excuses!” With no way to argue, Hadley followed her upstairs.


    Since the entire thing had been kept a secret, the dress was hidden away in N’s room.


    N led Hadley into the walk-in closet and gestured toward a dress hanging neatly on a rack. The fabric rested beneath a protective garment bag, crisp and freshly pressed. “Go on, take a look. Isn’t it beautiful?”


    Hadley gave a small nod. “It’s beautiful.”


    N gave Hadley a once-over, her eyes sharp with scrutiny. “You’re tall, and your figure is incredible. This dress was made for you. Try it on.”


    “Alright.”


    Satisfied, N stepped out of the walk-in closet and waited just outside. “Mrs. Flynn?”


    The housekeeper, Kira Delgado, approached, her expression tight with concern. “There’s an order that doesn’t sit right with me. Can you take care of it?”


    “Of course.” Without hesitation, N followed her. With Linda unavable, it was up to her to sort it out. Not long after they left, Eric appeared upstairs.


    He’de home early on purpose, curious if there was anything he could help with. When he didn’t find N or Hadley downstairs, he decided to check upstairs.


    “Grandma, you in there?”


    Eric knocked twice on N’s door. When no one answered, he tried the handle. It wasn’t locked, so he eased it open and stepped inside. In the walk-in closet, Hadley had slipped into the gown. It fit as if it were made for her, hugging every curve perfectly—except for one issue. The zipper was in the back, just out of reach. No matter how she…


    Hadley struggled with the zipper, twisting and turning, but she couldn’t quite reach it. Growing impatient, she heard footsteps approaching and assumed it was N.


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    “N, can you zip me up? I’ve been fighting with this thing forever.”


    The footsteps hesitated, then moved closer.


    Hadley sensed someone behind her and turned her head slightly. “Could you—”


    The words caught in her throat. Her whole body tensed.


    That wasn’t N. It was Eric.


    Her breath hitched.


    A jolt of panic shot through her, and she instinctively tried to bolt.


    “Stay still.”


    Eric’s fingers closed around her wrist, his other hand steadying her waist. He leaned in, his breath feather-light against her ear.


    “In a dress like this, where do you think you’re running off to? One wrong step, and it might just slip right off. You know that, right?”


    Hadley went rigid.


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