?Chapter 560:


    Never?


    She’d once believed that wholeheartedly. Now, she wasn’t so certain.


    “Let’s just drop it,” Linda murmured, regaining herposure. She went back to preparing breakfast, shing a faint smile. “It’s been a while since you had my cooking. Make sure you eat plentyter.”


    “Thank you, but this was too much trouble,” Eric said. “The housekeeper will be here soon…”


    “Hey, Eric.” Linda suddenly looked up and interrupted him. “I couldn’t find any ketchup earlier. Did you run out?”


    “Really?” Eric stood immediately, concern creasing his forehead. “I can go out and buy some!”


    “No, there’s no need!” Linda tried to stop him with a smallugh. “I only mentioned it in passing. If we have it, great—if not, it’s fine. You know I’ve never really been a big fan of ketchup.”


    “That won’t work. Hadley needs it—she won’t eat without ketchup. The store nearby should have some.”


    “Hey, Eric…” Linda began, but he was already on his way out. She watched him go, her eyes darkening slightly.


    He’d been so thoughtful toward Hadley these days.


    Eric came backter than expected, a bottle of ketchup in hand, which he ced on the table.


    “That took a while,” Lindamented.


    He exined, “The store downstairs didn’t have the brand Hadley likes, so I had to look elsewhere.”


    gα?ησν????s takes you on a journey


    As he spoke, footsteps sounded from the staircase—Hadley wasing down.


    “Hadley!”


    Eric stood immediately, his gaze locked on her, reading every shift in her expression.


    “You’re up already? This early?”


    “Yeah, but I see you and Linda beat me to it,” she replied with a slight smile.


    Her choice of “and Linda”—neatly lumped them together. Eric pushed aside the faint difort in his chest and took Hadley’s wrist. “Come have breakfast. Linda made something nice for us.”


    Hadley let him lead her into the dining room.


    Linda was busy cooking but turned when she heard them enter.


    “Hadley, good morning,” she said.


    Only Hadley noticed the unmistakable contempt in Linda’s eyes.


    “Go ahead and sit,” Eric said, letting go of Hadley’s hand. “I’ll help Linda.”


    He moved to Linda’s side, gently guiding her away from the stovetop. “I’ve got this. You go sit. You’ve already done so much.”


    Since Linda had already put in the effort, he felt it would be rude for him and Hadley to merely wait idly for their meal.


    Linda offered him a tight smile and stepped back. “Alright. Bacon’s done. You can fry some eggs with the grease—they’ll be great.”


    That left her and Hadley alone at the table, facing each other.


    “Wow!” Hadley inhaled deeply. “Smells amazing. I’ll bet it tastes just as good.”


    Linda’s face chilled. “I didn’t make them for you.”


    .


    .


    .