?Chapter 853:


    “Take care, Mr. Flynn—get some rest!”


    The group scattered, and Eric slid into his car, bound for Silver Vis. Sinking into the seat, fatigue weighed heavily on him.


    He had rushed back to Srixby for Hadley just when this business trip had begun—only to be blindsided…


    Her actions had pierced him like a dagger to the chest.


    The sting lingered, sharp and deep.


    To dull it, he flew back to Laventown and threw himself into work, relentless as if fueled by an endless espresso shot, toilingte into the night…


    The tasks finished ahead of schedule, but the ache didn’t fade. “Hadley…” Her name echoed silently in his mind, each repetition numbing the hurt a little more.


    At Silver Vis, the doorbell chimed while Fiona tackledundry on the balcony.


    “Hold on! I’ming!”


    She dashed to the door, figuring Eric must be back. But when it swung open, N stood there instead.


    “Mrs. Flynn,” Fiona greeted.


    “Yes,” N replied with a nod, ncing over her shoulder.


    Sebastian trailed N, his armsden with bags.


    “Hurry up!” N urged as she stepped inside, tossing a question at Fiona. “Where’s Hadley?”


    She scanned the room, not spotting her, and chuckled. “Still in bed, I bet? Pregnancy really knocks you out. Let her rest…”


    Then she shifted gears. “How’s Hadley been eatingtely? Still sticking to soup? I brought some top-notch ingredients for you to make soup for her…”


    Sebastian grinned, hauling the ingredients to the kitchen.


    ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????????ν?????????????


    “Mrs. Flynn…” Fiona faltered, caught off guard.


    “Alright then,” N said, rising with a smile. “I’ll peek upstairs at Hadley—quietly, so I don’t disturb her.”


    “Mrs. Flynn!” Fiona’s palms grew mmy as she stepped in N’s way.


    “Miss Pearson… she’s not… she’s not here…”


    “Not here?” N blinked, startled. “How’s that possible? Hadley’s got her TV station gig—doesn’t her shift start in the afternoon?”


    “Well…” Fiona shook her head, opting for honesty. “I’m not sure myself. Miss Pearson hasn’t been back in days.”


    N’s brow creased, a niggling suspicion taking root. “What’s going on?”


    “I…” Fiona kept shaking her head. “I don’t know. I just received a notice from Mr. Flynn, saying I don’t need to stay here full-time anymore—back to part-time hours, like before…”


    “Is that so?”


    N’s instincts screamed that something was amiss. Clearly, something had happened.


    With no more answers from Fiona, she turned to leave. “Okay, I see…” As she headed out, N pulled out her phone, ready to dial Hadley for rity.


    At the gate, Eric’s car rolled in.


    “Talk about timing!”


    N pocketed her phone, waiting as the vehicle stopped.


    .


    .


    .