?Chapter 272:


    Hadley’s lips pressed into a thin line, her expression unreadable as she kept quiet.


    Eric let out a dry chuckle, crossing his arms. “Forget it. No need to answer—I believe I already know.”


    There was only one type of man who would pester her like that. One of those leeches from Gnt who had fixated on her while she worked there. Fortunately, that part of her life was behind her. In fact, moving her to nche’s dance studio was proving to be an even smarter decision than he initially thought.


    But right now…


    Eric’s sharp eyes swept over her. “And you? What exactly are you doing out here at this hour instead of being at home?”


    Hadley’s patience frayed at the edges. “That’s none of your concern. You can go now.”


    Her dismissive tone didn’t faze Eric in the slightest. If anything, he had grown used to it.


    So she wasn’t going to tell him? Fine. He would find out himself. Eric’s gaze shifted to the line of people standing nearby, taking in their eager expressions. Whatever they were waiting for must have been important.


    Pulling out his wallet, Eric flipped through a neat stack of crisp bills before his attentionnded on a man standing in the queue. With effortless confidence, he gestured toward him. “You. What’s everyone lining up for? I’ll pay you for an answer. Five grand—sound good?” The man’s face lit up instantly. “Hell yeah!”


    “Eric, have youpletely lost your mind?!” Hadley whipped around, her expression frozen in disbelief. “You’re seriously throwing around five grand just to ask a question?”


    The man, unbothered by her reaction, eagerly exined the details of the limited purchase event. As soon as he finished, he extended his hand expectantly.


    Without hesitation, Eric passed him the money he had promised,pletely unfazed. Five grand? That was pocket change. Hardly worth getting worked up over.


    With that taken care of, he smoothly slid his wallet back into his pocket before reaching out, his fingers closing around Hadley’s arm. Hadley let out a sharp breath, barely holding back her frustration. If he hadn’t juste to her rescue a moment ago, she would’ve already sent her foot straight into his leg.


    “And now what do you think you’re doing?”


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    “You’reing with me.” Eric tapped her temple with the flick of a finger, his expression making it clear that he was just as exasperated. “Are you seriously this clueless?”


    She was willing to camp out here all night over some toy? She was already too thin for her own good—was she trying to make herself copse?


    “Enough. You’re going home to get some sleep.”


    “I’m not going anywhere.” Hadley knew she had no chance of overpowering him, so she tried a different approach. “I have something important to do. Is it really that hard for you to respect my choices?” No matter what, she had to get this for Joy.


    “You’re seriously refusing to leave?”


    Eric studied her carefully, his expression unreadable.


    “No,” she answered, unwavering.


    “Alright then.”


    Before she could even process what was happening, Eric crouched, slid an arm beneath her legs, and swept her straight off the ground in one smooth motion.


    “Whoa!”


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