?Chapter 893:


    “Mom,” Denver’s brow dipped, his voice turning serious. “I’m a grown man. I want to steer my own ship—not have every step tracked and dictated by you.”


    Wilma reeled, stunned. Her son wanted to leave because of her? “What are you saying?” she snapped, blind to her own ws. “I’m your mother—don’t you see I’m just watching out for you?”


    “Hey, Marshall,” Denver said, flicking his gaze over. “Catch my drift now? Do you now understand why I want to leave?”


    “Denver!” Wilma’s voice rose, sharp with agitation. “What’s with this attitude? Is it so wrong for me to want what’s good for you?”


    “What’s good for me?” Denver’sugh was cold, edged with disdain. “You mean what’s good in your eyes—splitting me from the one I loved, pushing me toward someone you picked?”


    “You!” Wilma’s fury red, her face mottled with rage. “So it boils down to Hadley, huh? I shouldn’t have meddled, fine—but what of it? You’re going to hold that over me?”


    “I wouldn’t dare,” Denver shot back, his expression icy. “Do what you want.”


    “You…”


    “Alright, Aunt Wilma!” Marshall jumped in, sensing a breaking point. “Didn’t you bring me here to talk him down? Let me have a shot.”


    “Marshall…” Wilma’splexion flickered between fury and pallor as she squeezed his hand. “I’m relying on you.”


    “Don’t worry.” Marshall nodded.


    Wilma threw Denver a hard look, sighed, and stormed out of the study. As the door clicked shut, Denver met Marshall’s eyes with a faint smirk. “No need to sway me. My mind’s set.”


    Marshall studied him, shaking his head with a rueful grin. “What if I told you Hadley and Eric broke up?”


    ?????????????????? ?????????? at g????????ν????.??0m


    Marshall’s revtion hit Denver like a jolt.


    “What—what did you just say?” Denver stood frozen as if the words hadn’t fully sunk in.


    Marshall let out a weary breath. “I probably shouldn’t have let that slip… For one, Eric was his buddy, and spilling this felt like a stab in the back. They both knew Eric had no ns to let Hadley go, breakup or not. For another, it was for Denver’s own good. His shes with his family often traced back to Hadley. But with Denver dead-set on leaving the country, no amount of reasoning could sway him—Marshall had to roll the dice.


    Denver snapped out of his daze, a flicker of thrill lighting up his face. “You’re serious? Hadley and Eric broke up?”


    “Yeah,” Marshall confirmed with a nod.


    “Marshall!” Denver seized his cousin’s shoulders, buzzing with gratitude. “Thanks, man! I owe you one!”


    “Don’t thank me yet,” Marshall said, brushing it off with a crooked grin. “I’m not even sure this was the right move.”


    Turned out, Hadley was the only anchor that could keep Denver from bolting overseas.


    Today, Hadley had another table reading session lined up at the film set.


    As she left her apartment, there was Eric’s Bentley, parked and waiting. He leaned against the door, shing her a wave and a smile.


    .


    .


    .