?Chapter 416:


    At that moment, Eric felt an overwhelming sense of despair, the weight of her disdain crushing him. A chilling realization hit him—Hadley despised him.


    Could she possibly hate him as well?


    “Hadley!”


    Instinctively, Eric called after her.


    Hadley halted, yet did not look back.


    “Hadley…” Eric whispered, his voice trembling as emotions swirled within him.


    “Tell me—do you hate me?”


    At these words, Hadley’s body tensed visibly.


    Time seemed to stall as silence lingered before she finally faced him, her gaze unflinching.


    Her words were deliberate, each pronounced with rity.


    “Yes, I hate you—despise you, even.”


    Gathering her courage, Hadley continued without wavering,


    “To be honest, had you not asked, I would never have had the courage to admit it. After all, you’re Eric Flynn—the man powerful enough to banish me from Srixby with a mere snap of your fingers.”


    Four long years had passed since she was forced to leave home.


    When she noticed Eric’s pale face, a harsh satisfaction briefly flickered in her eyes.


    “Are you shocked? Did you really think I should thank the man who banished me from my home, ignoring mepletely for four whole years?”


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    Eric found himself at a loss for words, his gaze darting away from hers.


    “It was because…”


    “Humph.” Hadley smiled coldly.


    “I understand—I was found guilty of hurting Linda. You’ve made your point clearly enough already.”


    Quietly, she looked down, hershes fluttering slightly as her voice softened.


    “But yourpensation was indeed generous.”


    Money—more than she’d ever dreamed she’d see in her lifetime.


    Considering that payment carefully, she added with resignation,


    “From now on, let’s live as strangers.”


    Without waiting for Eric’s reply, Hadley spun around decisively, opened the door, and climbed into the car.


    With a firm click, she closed the door and instructed,


    “You can drive now.”


    “Right away.”


    As the car vanished into the distance, the breeze brushed past Eric, who remained motionless, frozen by sorrow. A sudden emptiness filled him, a hollow sensation of loss he’d never experienced before.


    Years ago, he could never have imagined standing here, feeling this helpless.


    A single, painful thought crossed his mind—regret.


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