?Chapter 546:


    “The firefighters have arrived!”


    The golf course’s staff moved quickly, stepping in to control the crowd. “Everyone, please step back! Don’t block the rescue efforts!” Hadley followed along with the shifting crowd, stepping back as instructed.


    “Hadley!”


    A voice, urgent and unmistakable, rose above themotion.


    She turned toward the sound, her eyes scanning the mass of people until she saw him. Eric. Dressed in his sportswear, his hair slightly disheveled, his face unusually tense.


    “Hadley!”


    He raised his arm high, waving to make sure she saw him. “Wait right there—don’t move!”


    Hadley frowned in confusion but nodded. “Okay.”


    She barely had time to process what was happening before Eric finally broke through thest of the crowd,ing to an abrupt stop in front of her.


    His chest rose and fell heavily, his breath still unsteady. His hand lifted slightly, hovering as if to reach for her—but then hesitated.


    His gaze, however, moved freely—sweeping over her, checking, scanning, as though trying to convince himself she was real. That she was unharmed.


    “Are you…” His voice came out quieter than before, raw and strained.


    “Are you okay?”


    Huh? Hadley looked down at herselfpletely intact, standing right here, ice cream cone still in hand. What kind of question was that?


    “Yes. Yes, of course, you’re fine.” Eric’s expression was hard to read as he answered his own question.


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    His usually sharp, controlled demeanor wavered, flickering between overwhelming relief and something else—something deeper.


    Then, the realization hit. Her lips parted slightly in surprise. “Wait… Did you think I—”


    “Where the hell did you go?”


    Eric’s sudden outburst startled Hadley, his voice sharp with raw emotion.


    “Tell me!” His fists clenched at his sides as he stared at her. “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the lounge and wait for me?”


    Hadley blinked, caught off guard. “I went to get ice cream.” She frowned, realization dawning. “Wait. You—” She narrowed her eyes, incredulous. “You’re not actually mad that I wasn’t blown up, are you?”


    Before she could finish, Eric stepped forward and yanked her into his arms.


    Hadley stiffened, her mind nking.


    What was happening now?


    “Thank God,” Eric murmured, his grip tightening, his hand cradling the back of her head as he pressed her against him. “Thank God, thank God…”


    Hadley’s breath hitched. She could feel the wild beat of his heart through his shirt, the warmth of his body radiating against hers.


    “You made the best decision of your life, Hadley,” he whispered against her hair. “I’m d you decided to get ice cream!”


    Because of that one simple decision, she had unknowingly escaped disaster.


    Eric exhaled deeply, his body finally rxing, as though his soul had just been returned to him. For those agonizing minutes, he had felt like a dead man walking. But now, he could finally breathe again! His voice was softer now, tinged with relief.


    “You’re okay… that’s all that matters. You have no idea how scared I was.” Every word, every shaky breath reached Hadley’s ears.


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