?Chapter 354:


    On their ride home, Denver took the opportunity to learn more about the incident.


    “Can you tell me what happened tonight? How did you injure your hand?”


    Cradling her bandaged hand, Hadley chose not to disclose the harassment she had faced.


    Instead, she exined, “I was having dinner with the film crew when a ss broke. I cut myself picking up the pieces.” She framed the incident as a simple ident.


    Denver, still looking for more answers, asked, “How did you bump into Eric?”


    Hadley hesitated.


    “I really don’t know, Denver,” she said. “I bumped into him just as I was stepping out. Maybe he was there for dinner, just like you.” Given that Poseidon’s Realm was a popr spot for business, her exnation wasn’t out of the ordinary.


    “Yeah, that sounds right,” Denver acknowledged, his worries easing. He believed that Eric’s presence was just coincidental and not an attempt to reconnect with Hadley.


    Relieved, Denver walked Hadley to her apartment door.


    “Hadley.”


    She stopped, uncertain whether Denver meant toe inside.


    With a gentle smile and averted eyes, Denver expressed his concern.


    “Hadley, I hate that you were injured, but… ” A sincere warmth emanated from his gaze. “I’m actually feeling quite joyful right now.”


    Hadley, taken aback, wondered about the reason for his happiness.


    Denver met her gaze, reflecting her image in his eyes. “It’s because when you saw Eric, you didn’t go with him. You called me instead. Knowing that fills me with joy, Hadley. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”


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    The thought that Hadley’s first instinct was to turn to him when she was in trouble thrilled Denver.


    “Hadley.”


    Denver’s gaze locked onto hers, steady and unyielding. “From now on, no matter what—just like tonight—you call me first.”


    His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “I don’t care where I am or what I’m doing. I’ll drop everything ande to you.”


    Hadley froze, caught off guard.


    A quiet warmth spread through her chest, foreign yet undeniably real. To be prioritized like this—to be someone’s first call—was a feeling she never thought she’d experience.


    Before tonight, she wouldn’t have even dared to hope.


    But Denver… he made her feel as though, in his world, she was what mattered most.


    “It’ste. I should go. Get some rest.”


    Not wanting to linger, Denver gave a small wave.


    “Goodnight,” Hadley murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she gently shut the door behind him.


    A few momentster, her phone buzzed.


    It was a message from Denver: “Keep your wound dry. Don’t forget to take your medicine.”


    A sudden sting pricked Hadley’s nose, and tears welled up before she could stop them.


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