?Chapter 973:


    Then he ced the lean piece onto her te. “There. No fat. Now eat.”


    Hadley stared at him, momentarily speechless—but her appetite had vanished.


    They didn’t have much time left. After lunch, Eric drove her back to the set.


    When they arrived, he leaned over and wrapped her in a hug, his hand gently resting against the back of her head. “I’m leaving soon. Once I get to Orkmont, I’ll call.”


    He released her, unfastened her seatbelt, and looked at her with reluctant eyes. “Wait for me.”


    Hadley stepped out and walked toward the set.


    Even without turning back, she could feel Eric’s gaze digging into her back.


    She didn’t look back. Instead, she picked up her pace and jogged the rest of the way inside.


    The days that followed felt unchanged. Hadley moved between the film set and her apartment, her routine untouched.


    One day, she finished shooting early. On her way back, she stopped at the supermarket to pick up groceries from a list Melba had sent. Bags in hand, she stepped out of the supermarket and headed for the bus stop across the street.


    Just then, a sleek silver-gray Pagani pulled up beside her. She recognized it instantly—Denver’s car.


    The window lowered to reveal his familiar, refined features and a soft smile. “Hadley. Been a while.”


    “Denver.” She returned the smile. “Yeah, it has.”


    “Heading back to Milnd Road?” he asked, ncing at her grocery bags. “Let me give you a lift.”


    She shook her head politely. “Thanks, but I’ll just take the bus. It’s only two stops. Super quick.”


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    Their rtionship was no more than casual acquaintanceship at this point.


    “Alright,” he said, understanding her boundary. His smile turned a little wistful. “I’ll get going then.”


    “Okay.”


    Denver drove off, watching her in the rearview mirror, reluctant to look away.


    But then—his eyes froze.


    A ck van screeched to a stop in front of Hadley. The door slid open, and an arm shot out, yanking her inside in one swift motion. “Hadley!”


    Panic surged through Denver. He tried to turn his car around, but traffic boxed him in.


    The cars behind began to honk. “You can’t turn around here! Are you crazy?”


    “Move it! Don’t block the road!”


    Heart racing, Denver looked again—but the ck van had already vanished.


    Inside the van,


    “Stop the car!” Hadley screamed, banging her fists against the seat in front of her. “Let me out! I said stop!”


    The driver nced at her through the mirror. “Miss Pearson, I’d suggest you save your strength and stay calm.”


    Her breath hitched.


    He knew her name. This wasn’t random. It had been nned.


    “Who are you?”


    Hadley tried to think—who could’ve done this? Was it the Jenkins family again?


    “Astrid? Noreen? Did they send you?”


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