?Chapter 556:


    “What did you just say?”


    Eric’s fingers hovered over the light switch, ready to plunge the room into darkness—until her words froze him in ce.


    “What do you mean… if I’m noting back?” His voice was lower now,ced with something unreadable.


    Why was it so hard to understand what she was implying?


    Hadley opened her eyes again, unfazed. She turned over to face him, her expression calm. “Isn’t Linda staying?” Her lips curled into azy smile. “I figured you’d want to keep herpany. Especially since she’s so upset!”


    What was wrong with what she said?


    “Hadley, enough!” Eric’s tone sharpened, his patience wearing thin.


    From the moment Linda showed up at their doorstep, Hadley had been throwing veiled jabs at him, testing the waters, pushing buttons.


    Until now, he had held back. But this—this was thest straw.


    His voice darkened. “I’ve told you time and time again—there is nothing between Linda and me. What will it take for you to believe me?”


    Hadley didn’t even hesitate. She shook her head with an easy, knowing smile. “You don’t have to lie to me! I’m not Ernest, Eric!”


    She leaned back against the pillows, her tone turning almost analytical.


    “You looked so concerned about her earlier…” Her wordsnded precisely where they were meant to. “For you, following Ernest’s lead has always been second nature. But tonight?” She arched a brow. “You contradicted him. For her.”


    Hadley then gave a small, deliberate shrug. “Just a reminder—if you don’t want Ernest to suspect anything… maybe try a little harder to hide it.”


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    “I was concerned about her because…” Eric faltered. His mind scrambled for the right words, but none came. How was he supposed to exin?


    Hadley arched an eyebrow, watching him stumble over himself.


    “Because what?”


    Her lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. “Let me tell you why.” She propped herself up slightly, her gaze sharp. “Because you simply care about her. You can’t stand seeing her suffer, and for a moment—you lost control.”


    Then, something clicked.


    “Oh, right…” Her expression turned shrewd as she narrowed her gaze at him. “Is it true? That Ernest is two-timing?” Her smirk deepened.


    “And if he is—do you see this as your chance?”


    “Hadley…”


    “Oh, I see it now!” Hadley pped her hands together,ughing lightly.


    “It is your chance, isn’t it?”


    She waved him off, her toneced with amusement and derision. “Go on, Eric! What are you still doing here? Don’t waste time with me—go be her hero!”


    “Hadley!” Eric’s temper finally snapped. His voice, tight with anger, cut through the air like a whip. “Do you really think so little of me?”


    “Yes.” Hadley didn’t even hesitate.


    Tonight, she had seen enough. She was sick of it.


    Hadley had always known their rtionship was transactional, a mutual convenience. She had never been under any illusions about that. But did he and Linda really have to be so tant about it? At the very least, they could have had the decency to keep their flirtation out of her sight.


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