?Chapter 1216:


    He sighed. “Do you really like her that much?”


    Locke nodded. “Yes.”


    “Oh?” Ernest was intrigued. “Why?”


    Was it instinct? Blood calling to blood?


    “Because…” Locke’s young face turned serious. “She’s different from the others. She doesn’t focus on you.”


    Ernest blinked.


    “All my teachers—Brigid, even the ones at school—they always look at you more than me. But Elissa… she’s different. She doesn’t like you.”


    Ernest’s face stiffened. A twitch tugged at his mouth. “We’ll see about that.”


    “Why?” Locke frowned, worried. “You promised to hire someone I liked.”


    Still slightly rattled by his son’s earlierment, Ernest was in no mood for soft parenting. “You might like her… but she might not like you back.”


    Locke was stunned. “That can’t be. She’s always so nice to me—I think she likes me a lot!”


    “Son,” Ernest muttered, “you’re far too naive. She’s simply being polite, that’s all. You can’t know what people are really thinking.”


    Locke looked crushed.


    Seeing this, Ernest relented slightly. “Alright… I’ll ask her. But don’t get your hopes up.”


    “Okay…” Locke mumbled, clearly disappointed.


    That night marked Hadley’s final dubbing session.


    As she stepped out of the studio, she ran into a familiar face.


    “Hadley?” A lit up, grasping her arm with enthusiasm. “It’s been ages! How have you been?”


    “I’ve been alright…” Hadley said with a polite smile.


    “Heading home?” A nced around, her smile turning sly. “Did youe alone? Is Mr. Flynn—oops, I mean, Mr. Scott—waiting outside?”


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    The news that Eric was actually a long-lost member of the Scott family had recently stirred up quite the buzz in Srixby.


    People were fascinated—and envious. The idea that someone could lose one wealthy family only to be found by another felt like something straight out of a drama.


    A leaned in. “So? Is Mr. Scott here?”


    Hadley shook her head. “No.”


    “No?” A’s eyes widened. “Wait—did you two break up?”


    Hadley didn’t want to get into it—especially not with A.


    Just then, Elvin appeared down the hallway. “Hadley!”


    “Mr. Webster, I’m here!” Hadley quickly turned to A. “Sorry, A, Mr. Webster needs me. You should get back to work.”


    “Wait—”


    But Hadley was already walking away. A hesitated, then quietly followed behind, frowning.


    “Hadley,” Elvin said, stepping closer, “the new drama we talked about before? The investors want you for a major role—just beneath the lead.”


    “Just beneath the lead?” Hadley raised an eyebrow. “Is that even appropriate?”


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