?Chapter 1401:


    “You’re too kind.”


    As soon as he left, Hadley felt a flicker of confusion. Why had Eric gone through the trouble of having someone prepare steamed fish… without saying anything beforehand?


    Then it clicked—Tamara must have told him that she skipped dinner. Or maybe Chelsey had.


    She now knew Chelsey had already switched sides and was quietly reporting to Phillips.


    Still, she hesitated.


    She was hungry, yes—but eating thiste? Then again… it was just fish—good protein and no burden.


    As she debated, her phone vibrated.


    A message from Eric.


    “The grouper is steamed. No oil—just a little light sauce for vor. The kind you like. Eat it. It’s all protein, so you won’t gain weight.”


    Another line followed. “You’re already thin. You’re perfect like this. If you lose more weight, it’ll hurt your health.” His tone…<fn083b> The source of th?s content is </fn083b>


    Hadley let out a softugh. She murmured, “Nagging and fussy… just like my grandma.” Then she stopped.


    Did she really justpare Eric to her grandmother?


    Habit had a way of creeping in. It made people toofortable. Too trusting.


    And here she was—settling into the space he had made for her.


    Their rtionship had slipped into something strange. A pattern she couldn’t break, but couldn’t fully ept either.


    Hadley sighed and looked down at the fish. She picked up her fork and gave it a small poke.


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    When Eric came down from Joy’s room, he noticed Hadley was gone. The dining table had been cleared, and a single rinsed te sat in the sink.


    He raised an eyebrow. Did she really finish the entire fish?


    Turning back, he climbed the stairs and stopped outside her room. He knocked quietly.


    No answer.


    She was probably in the shower.


    Eric returned to his room, set down his phone, and stepped into the walk-in closet to grab a change of clothes.


    When he came out of the bathroom, towel in hand, he checked his phone.


    A message from Hadley lit up the screen.


    “The fish tasted pretty good, so I ate it all.”


    Eric chuckled under his breath at her reply. His chest felt lighter. A smile tugged at his lips. He flopped onto the bed, covering his face with one hand.


    He didn’t need a mirror to know—he was smiling like a love-struck fool.


    It was ridiculous. A single text from Hadley, and still, he felt this happy.


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