?Chapter 758:


    Hadley’s heart raced. She suddenly recalled—back then, she had initially been captivated simply by his looks. At that time, she hadn’t realized that the man she loved would be her greatest downfall.


    The next morning, Hadley was still nestled in sleep when she faintly heard Eric stirring. He didn’t even turn on the light as he moved silently so as not to wake her. Once he dressed in the dark and slipped out, Hadley opened her eyes, unable to drift back to sleep.


    Suddenly, a wave of resentment surged within her!


    Why had he been so reluctant to be even kind to her back then, when he could be so kind and attentive now?


    She swung her legs over the side of the bed, tied her long hair into a loose bun, and stepped into the bathroom, nning to head to her apartment early for breakfast with Joy.


    Leaving Silver Vis, Hadley used an app to summon a car to her apartment. After arriving, she passed by a pharmacy and, after a moment’s hesitation, decided to go inside to buy a pregnancy test.


    She knew the timing wasn’t ideal, and the result might not be urate—she would still need a blood test for confirmation. She just couldn’t help but take a test first.


    Deep down, she desperately wished to be pregnant.


    Back at the apartment, the soft hush of the afternoon stillness lingered. Joy was still asleep, her gentle breaths barely audible from the bedroom.


    In the kitchen, Melba moved with practiced ease, the quiet tter of dishes filling the space. Hadley slipped into the bathroom, a small package in her hand. She shut the door behind her, took a deep breath, and carefully pulled out the test kits.


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    She had bought three different brands—just to be sure.


    Fifteen minutes crawled by. One by one, she checked the results. Two lines. On all three tests.


    Hadley pressed her lips together, her heartbeat quickening. Could it really be… ? Thest time, it had been a false rm. She took a deep breath and told herself not to get ahead of things this time, not to let hope rise too soon. Instinctively, her hands moved to her lower abdomen, a quiet prayer forming in her heart.


    Just as she exhaled and reached for the door handle, a small, familiar voice rang out from the other side. Joy was awake.


    “Mom? Where are you?”


    Hadley stepped out of the bathroom with a warm smile. “Right here, sweetheart.”


    “Mom!” Joy came running, clutching a well-loved plush toy, her hair tousled from sleep.


    Hadley bent down, scooping her up effortlessly, pressing a big, affectionate kiss against her chubby cheek.


    “How about I fix your hair?” she suggested, brushing a few stray strands away from Joy’s face.


    Joy giggled, eyes bright. “I want little buns!”


    “Little buns it is.”


    Carrying Joy back to the room, Hadley settled her into a chair and gently beganbing through her hair, parting it into two neat sections. Her fingers moved with practiced ease, twisting the soft locks into yful little buns.


    “Mom…”


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