?Chapter 346:


    Still, he shook his head, his forehead creased in refusal.


    With a hand pressed to her temple, she felt a wave of resignation.


    “Alright, I’ll call the caregiver.”


    Ernest had a duo of caregivers, one male and one female. As Linda stood up, a pang of unease fluttered in her chest.


    She really didn’t get it. What was happening with Ernest? Ever since he regained consciousness, he had been keeping her at arm’s length.


    He permitted her to wipe his face and help him sip water, but when it came to using the bathroom or a full-body cleaning, he insisted on the presence of a caregiver.


    Why?


    They had shared so much intimacy. Perhaps he simply didn’t want her to witness him at his most vulnerable. Linda clung to that thought forfort.


    Since Ernest still couldn’t articte his needs, she felt powerless to argue with him.


    A weekter, Hadley meticulouslybed through the script, recording her interpretations of the female roles with care. She handed the hefty stack of notes to Adonis.


    “Mr. Faulkner, here you are.”


    Adonis epted it, visibly taken aback. “This is quite a pile.”


    “Yes…” Hadley felt a twinge of self-consciousness. “I’ve never tackled anything like this before, so I jotted down every thought that crossed my mind.”


    “No problem at all.” Adonis admired her approach. “This kind of attitude is the first step toward sess. I’ll review it and get back to you.”


    “Okay.”


    The oue was that Adonis walked away quite pleased.


    However, casting for a show was not solely his decision. As the director, he still had to answer to the producer and the investor. The former held overall authority, while thetter provided the funds. Together, they wielded real power.


    Plus, bringing a new face into the fold came with its own set of challenges.


    One evening after filming, Elvin sought out Hadley.


    “Hadley, Mr. Faulkner wants you to join us for dinner tomorrow night.” Before she could ask for specifics, Elvin winked conspiratorially.


    “As of now, you’re the only woman on our radar for this new project. Don’t sweat it when you meet the producer and the investors. Mr. Faulkner and I will have your back.”


    So it was a dinner with the bigwigs.


    Hadley felt an unshakeable hesitation, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on why.


    Still, she nodded. “Understood.”


    The next day, knowing she was about to meet the heavyweights, Hadley chose a coffee-toned evening gown—elegant and ttering to her figure.


    Following Elvin’s directions, she arrived punctually at the venue to find him.


    “Hadley.” Elvin waved her over. “Come on, Mr. Faulkner is already upstairs.”


    “Alright.”


    Inside the elevator, Elvin let out a deep sigh, a shadow of concern crossing his face.


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