?Chapter 1252:


    Hadley hesitated. She had every intention of turning him down. “We already agreed. Unless you cut ties with Linda, I—”


    “It’s already done.” He cut her off before she could finish.


    Hadley froze. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she asked, “What… did you say?”


    Eric felt a myriad of emotions. This was what Hadley had asked of him. But to say he was happy about cutting ties with Linda would be a lie.


    They had known each other for years. He didn’t love Linda, not in the way Hadley feared, but there had been friendship, gratitude, a sense of responsibility, and guilt.


    For his own selfish reasons, he chose to sever more than a decade of history. It hadn’t been easy.


    Eric drew a shallow breath to steady himself. With eyes locked on hers, he slowly said, “I’ve taken care of everything. From now on, I’ll only be good to you. Only look at you. And only listen to you.”


    Hadley’s lips parted slightly, too stunned to speak. “This is… You’re…” How could it be possible?


    “It’s true.” Eric reached out, trying to take her hand. “I did what you asked. So, Hadley—”


    “Why?” Hadley could barely process his words. Her mind was spiraling with questions.


    “What do you mean ‘why’?” Eric frowned, confused. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”


    “Ha!” Hadley sneered and shot him a cold look. “So that’s it? Just because I asked, you went and did it?”


    “Yes.” Eric nodded, clearly not understanding. “What’s the problem?” He had done what she asked. Why didn’t she seem happy?


    “Hadley.” He gripped her hands tighter and enclosed them in his own. Then, he leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. “Remember what you promised me. You said—”


    Before he could finish, Hadley yanked her hands free and shoved him hard.


    She stared at him like he was someone she no longer recognized. “Have you lost your mind? Do you even know what you’ve done? That’s Linda! The person you care for more than anything and anyone—including yourself!”


    Unable to believe it, she shook her head and began backing away. “No… This can’t be real!”


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    “You’re giving me too much credit,” Eric said, his smile edged with quiet self-mockery. “I don’t think anyone is truly capable of putting otherspletely ahead of themselves… and I’m certainly no exception.”


    Did this mean things between Eric and Linda were really over?


    “From this point on…” Eric continued, his voice calm but resolute, “I won’t involve myself in her personal affairs anymore. But she’s all alone in this world now. The least I can do is make sure she’s livingfortably.”


    Hadley’s brow creased, her thoughts tangled in silence. Everything he said felt too sudden, too overwhelming. Her mind struggled to catch up.


    “Hadley…” Eric’s voice softened, as though even speaking her name touched something fragile inside him. He reached out, his fingers curling softly around hers. “You said before…”


    “Hadley! There you are!” A voice from behind cut him off.


    Grateful for the interruption, Hadley quickly slipped her hand from Eric’s and turned around. Elvin and Draper were walking toward her.


    “Mr. Webster. Draper.”


    Draper, who had starred in the same drama where she first got a minor role, was now the male lead in Adonis’ new project—making him not only a familiar face but her senior on set.


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