?Chapter 550:


    He raised his hands, as if to say he had no idea what was going on and why Linda was holding him.


    Hadley tilted her head slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes. Her chuckle was soft, mocking. She deliberately lowered her voice, drawing out the words. “Should I give you two some privacy?”


    Hearing her, Linda stiffened. She finally lifted her head from Eric’s chest.


    “You…” Linda blurted, clearly caught off guard. “What are you doing here?”


    “Excuse me?” Hadley arched an eyebrow, her smile deepening. “Why wouldn’t I be?”


    “Linda,” Eric interjected quickly, his voice firm. “Hadley is my girlfriend.”


    Linda’s lips pressed together. “I know.”


    Of course, she knew. But seeing it—watching the way Eric stood next to Hadley, realizing they were living under the same roof—it was something else entirely. Were they living together?


    Hadley let out a quiet, icyugh, her gaze flickering toward Eric with an unreadable expression. “So, your darling seems to think I don’t belong here.” She tilted her chin at him. “Should I get out of your way?”


    Then, without waiting for a response, she turned and pointed toward the staircase. “Fine, I’ll just head upstairs then.”


    A secondter, she paused, reconsidering. “Actually… no. I think I should just leave.”


    After all, his precious sweetheart was here now. What was she still doing hanging around?


    With an exaggerated nod of understanding, Hadley spun on her heel and strode toward the entrance. “Okay, bye.”


    “Hadley!” Eric reacted instantly, grabbing her wrist, paning his voice.


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    “Don’t be like this…”


    Hadley turned back with wide, innocent eyes. “Like what? I’m just giving you two some space that you very much need. Isn’t that what you want?”


    “Hadley, please just…”


    Linda, who had been silent for a moment, snapped.


    Watching Hadley toy with the situation so effortlessly only made her angrier.


    “Hadley, that’s enough!” Linda snapped, her voice cutting through the air like a de. “Is this how you treat Eric?”


    “What?”


    Hadley casually shook off Linda’s outburst, her toneced with amusement. “Then enlighten me—how should I treat him?”


    Linda scoffed, her sharp gaze burning into Hadley like she was trying to tear through herposure.


    “From the moment I walked in, every word out of your mouth has been nothing but mockery toward him!” Linda’s voice trembled with frustration. “And this isn’t even the first time! This is the second time you’ve pulled this in front of me! Do you not have the slightest respect for your own boyfriend?”


    Hadley gasped theatrically, clutching her chest in faux rm. “Oh my, Linda! Why would you think that? Are you saying that Eric liking you is an insult to him?”


    “Hadley!”


    “Hadley!”


    Both Linda and Eric spoke at the same time.


    Hadley blinked in exaggerated innocence. “Goodness,” she said, feigning exasperation. “I’m not deaf, you know. No need to shout.”


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