?Chapter 669:


    Drawing a slow, steady breath, she asked softly, “Let me phrase it differently. Eric, do you love me?”


    He fell into immediate silence.


    “Haha.”


    Hadley released a soft, resignedugh and stepped away from his embrace. “Marriage is about two people loving each other deeply and wanting a future together. If you can’t even answer whether you love me, how can you talk about marriage?”


    She opened her hands gently, shrugging lightly. “We’ve made that mistake once already. Do you really think repeating it will make things better?”


    Eric remained silent, his expression darkening.


    “It’s fine,” she said reassuringly, assuming he understood her point. “I’ll pretend I never heard your proposal, and you can forget you even said it.”


    ncing toward him, she indicated the steering wheel. “Could you drop me off at the dance studio first? Then head to your office?”


    “Hadley…”


    Eric suddenly gripped her wrist, a questioning look shadowing his eyes, much like a puzzled child.


    “How am I supposed to prove I truly care for you?”


    His brow knitted in quiet contemtion, as though seeking answers from himself. “I give youfort, good food, fine clothes, anything you want. Isn’t that what love looks like? Shouldn’t it be enough?”


    Hadley’sughter bubbled up quietly after hearing Eric’s words.


    “Something amusing about what I just said?” Eric frowned, baffled by her unexpected reaction.


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    “Nope.”


    She pressed her lips together, trying to hold back theughter that danced in her eyes. “Mr. Flynn, you’ve just unintentionally confessed who truly holds your heart.”


    Eric’s confusion only deepened. “What exactly do you mean by that?”


    “Well…” Hadley exhaled softly, wondering if he truly couldn’t see it himself.


    Fine, she’d spell it out clearly.


    With deliberate frankness, she said, “You’re always fulfilling Linda’s every wish, giving her the very best. By your own logic, that would mean the person you actually love is—”


    “Hadley!” Eric snapped, cutting her off abruptly, his expression clouding over.


    Ignoring the sharp interruption, Hadley tilted her head gently. “Does hearing the truth irritate you that much?” Reaching up slowly, she straightened his tie.


    It had be slightly crooked in his haste earlier.


    “Mr. Flynn, just because you can’t marry the person you truly desire doesn’t mean marriage should be your constion prize.” She finished tidying his tie, fingers carefully releasing the silk.


    Eric looked downward briefly before gripping her hand firmly. “Could you take this seriously for a second? Linda has nothing to do with what’s between us. Why do you keep mentioning her?”


    So, she wasn’t even allowed to say Linda’s name now?


    Hadley’s smile lost its yful edge, growing serious. “Alright, let me say this inly—I won’t marry you.”


    “What’s your reason?” Eric’s gaze sharpened suspiciously. “Because you assume I don’t love you?”


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