?Chapter 1096:


    “Eric, there you are!” Megan’s voice rang out, her tone a mix of irritation and relief. “You really know how to hide. It took me forever to find you!”


    Then came Eric’s voice, cool and distant. “What do you want?”


    In a familiar gesture, Megan linked her arm with his, prompting a frown from Eric.


    “Let go,” he said sternly.


    “I heard…” Megan clung to his arm, clearly ignoring his warning. “You finally dumped that sly little flirt, Hadley?”


    Eric, holding a cigarette loosely between his fingers, gave her a sidelong nce. “Why do you care?”


    “It’s important to me!” Megan dered, pouting as she leaned closer.


    “Now that you’re single, perhaps you’ll consider me, right?”


    Eric’sugh was quiet and icy. “You really have no shame, do you?”


    Megan, undeterred by his tone, countered, “If I weren’t bold, how would I ever have a chance with you?”


    Seeing her determination, Eric couldn’t help but smile, half amused. “Are you really going all out? Do you actually like me?”


    “I do!” Megan eximed, boldly reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck, standing on her toes.


    She winked at him, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. “I like you, and I want to be with you. What do you say? Do you want me?”


    Overwhelmed by the disy before her, Hadley couldn’t bear it any longer. The sight of them getting so close made her skin crawl.


    With a cold chuckle, she turned away, her thoughts bitter.


    Men and their endlessly deceitful ways! Just days earlier, Eric had pledged his loyalty to Hadley, yet here he was, already flirting with someone else.


    The irony of it made Hadley scoff quietly to herself as she turned away and headed for the stairs.


    In her rush, she bumped into someone.


    “Sorry…” Flustered, she apologized quickly. When she looked up, she realized it was Marshall.


    g?lnσν????s?c?m fuels your imagination


    “Hey, Hadley,” Marshall said, recognizing her instantly. “Why the rush?”


    “Nothing,” Hadley replied, brushing off her difort. She wasn’t about to share that she had just witnessed Eric with Megan. “I was just looking for the bathroom, but I got a bit turned around in this big ce.”


    “Would you like me to show you the way?”


    “Yes, please. Thank you.”


    As they walked down the hallway, Marshall pointed ahead. “The bathroom is just at the end of this corridor.”


    “Thank you, Marshall.”


    “You’re wee,” Marshall replied, then added with a thoughtful expression, “Actually, I should be thanking you.”


    “For what?” Hadley was puzzled, unsure what she could have done to merit his gratitude.


    “Don’t you remember? It’s about my cousin, Denver,” Marshall said with a grin. “He went on a blind date not long ago. Thanks to you catching that woman two-timing, he avoided a disaster.”


    Marshall was referring to that particr incident, which Hadley had nearly forgotten.


    .


    .


    .