?Chapter 653:


    “Back!”


    What just happened?


    Hadley was taken aback. Joy was usually such a well-behaved child, and now she was openly defying her mother for the first time. Was it because of Eric, a man who had never yed a significant role in her life?


    A shadow fell over Hadley’s face. “Joy, I asked you to remove those hairpins. Did you not hear me?”


    Seeing her mother’s serious demeanor, Joy shivered; it was unfamiliar to see her mother so stern.


    Tears welled up in her eyes, and her bottom lip trembled.


    “You’re not being fair, Mommy! Waaah…”


    Upset, she dashed into her room, saying, “I don’t want to talk to Mommy anymore!”


    “Joy!”


    Hadley was shocked by Joy’s vehement response.


    “What’s going on here?”


    Melba, too, was stunned by the sudden re-up between mother and daughter.


    She approached Hadley quickly, attempting to ease the tension. “It’s not ideal for Joy to ept gifts like that, but this shouldn’t cause a rift between you two over an outsider. She’s just a child; perhaps a gentle conversation would be better.”


    “You’re right.”


    Realizing her own overreaction, Hadley felt a wave of helplessness.


    She had inadvertently directed her anger towards Eric at Joy. She paused at Joy’s door, took a deep breath to collect herself, and said softly, “Joy, Mommy’sing in, okay?”


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    Gently opening the door, she found Joy curled up under her nket on the bed.


    Approaching with a tender smile, Hadley said, “It’s Mommy. I came to say I’m sorry.”


    Joy’s big eyes appeared from under the nket, gazing up at her mother.


    “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Hadley’s voice was soft, her eyes slightly moist. “I overreacted. Can you forgive Mommy?”


    “Mommy.” Joy spoke softly, her voice tinged with vulnerability as she nestled into Hadley’s embrace.


    Between a mother and her daughter, resentment was fleeting.


    “Mommy, please don’t be mad. It frightens me!”


    “I’m so sorry.” Hadley’s voice wasden with regret as she held her daughter closer. “I promise, it won’t happen again.”


    Comfort enveloped them as they embraced, easing Hadley’s spirits.


    After a moment, Hadley broached a sensitive subject gently, asking, “Joy, where did you first meet that nice man?”


    “In the,” Joy responded, her head tilted up as she recounted the encounter.


    She described how she had been bullied at a hospital in the and Eric’s timely intervention.


    Surprised by the revtion, Hadley pondered the implications. Their connection had started much earlier than she realized. Could it have been destiny that brought them together?


    Gently stroking her daughter’s hair, Hadley inquired softly, “Joy, do you like him?”


    “Yes!” Joy’s response came quickly, her head bobbing eagerly. “I really like him.”


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