?Chapter 543:


    After a brief pause, Eric got out too, his expression darkening with quiet displeasure.


    Later that evening, freshly showered, Hadley rxed on the bed, idly scrolling through videos on her tablet.


    Eric soon joined her, slipping under the covers and drawing her close against him. “What are you watching?” he murmured softly into her ear.


    “Here.” Hadley didn’t nce up, merely pointing distractedly at the screen.


    Eric nced over her shoulder, eyebrows lifting slightly. “Oh, I’ve seen this one before. Not bad actually.”


    As he spoke, his hold around her waist tightened slightly, his touch growing restless. He pressed a gentle kiss against her hair, slowly trailing down toward her cheek.


    “Ugh…” Hadley sighed impatiently, lowering the tablet. “Are you trying to annoy me on purpose?”


    “Annoy you?” Ericughed softly, his voice low and inviting. “Far from it.” His eyes sparkled with yful intensity as he studied her face. “Hadley, it’s been too long.”


    Indeed, it had been a while since they’d shared a bed like this.


    And he, after all, was just a man.


    Having such a captivating woman lying next to him every night, yet unable to do anything—it was bing unbearable.


    Eric gazed at her pleadingly, his voice tinged with desire. “Hadley, can’t you have a little mercy on me?”


    But Hadley’s heart remained stubbornly unmoved.


    With a gentle yet firm push, she created distance between them. “I told you, I’m just not in the mood.”


    Your favorite stories are on g?lnσνe??s?c?m


    Eric sighed, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. “You’ve said that already—but hasn’t it been long enough?”


    “What, you can’t handle it?” Hadley raised a teasing eyebrow, deliberately provoking him.


    “If it’s too difficult, maybe you should find someone else—”


    “Hadley!”


    His sharp voice cut her off abruptly. Eric’s expression hardened, his lips tightening into a thin, tense line as he fought to control his irritation.


    “If you don’t want me near you, fine. But don’t say things like that just to push my buttons.”


    Without another word, he tossed aside the covers and strode to the bathroom, leaving Hadley frozen in surprise.


    She stared after him, bewildered by his sudden reaction. What was that? Was Eric actually choosing self-restraint… for her sake?


    Her pulse quickened slightly at the possibility.


    But she swiftly shook the thought away. No—it couldn’t be.


    For them, respect and devotion were dangerous emotions, warning signs she couldn’t afford to ignore.


    The following day was a rare break for Hadley, and Eric had arranged his schedule so he could apany her to the golf course.


    Although he’d nned some business there, Eric arrived early.


    Determined to spend quality time with her first, Eric was navigating the day effortlessly. Such informal settings were often where crucial business decisions took shape, and he handled them with ease.


    Hadley, having been groomed meticulously by N as part of her upbringing, was no stranger to these refined social pastimes.


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