?Chapter 2795:


    Even if he wasn’t, he had framed it so neatly that she could hardly argue against him.


    Ellis broke the silence after a beat.


    “What’s keeping you quiet? Don’t tell me you’re searching for another excuse to turn me down.”


    The words caught Hadley off guard.


    He had read her thoughts too easily.


    “Hadley.” Ellis spoke her name with quiet tenderness.


    “You don’t have to keep putting up walls with me. Just ease up a little. I’m not asking you to take the lead, only to let me show you some kindness. Will you allow that?”


    Hadley’s lips parted, yet no sound came for a while. Atst, she whispered, “Alright.”


    There really wasn’t any way around it.


    “That’s good to hear,” Ellis answered, his tone carrying the trace of a smile.


    “Then it’s decided. Rest early tonight. I’ll be there to pick you up tomorrow.”


    Once the call ended, Hadley put her phone aside and sank back against the bed.


    Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, left half-dry without care. Blow-drying could wait. She didn’t have the strength to bother with it now.


    Out of nowhere, Hadley recalled how Eric would have scolded her if he saw her in this state.


    “Leaving your hair wet like that will only bring you headachester!”


    “You’re still so young—why can’t you take better care of yourself?”


    “Carrying Joy already weakened your body. You should be healing, not neglecting your health.”


    Rolling over sharply, Hadley pressed her face hard into the pillow.


    Enough already.


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    Why was her mind drifting there again?


    Those days were gone… and nothing like that was ever going to return.


    The following morning, once Joy had gone off to her lessons, Hadley collected the things the servants had set aside and prepared to head out.


    Before she could leave the house, her phone buzzed with Ellis calling right on schedule.


    “Hello?”


    “I’m waiting at the gate. Come out.”


    “Alright,” Hadley said evenly, carrying the items toward the main entrance.


    “That’s quite a load,” Ellis said as he leaned against his car. Watching her juggle the bags, he immediately stepped forward and relieved her of them.


    “Why didn’t you let me know? I could’ve driven inside and picked you up.”


    Hadley gave a small shake of her head.


    “No need. They’re really not that heavy.”


    But were they?


    Ellis doubted it. What he sensed instead was her reluctance—she clearly didn’t want him pulling into the driveway where her family or Joy might notice him. Still, he kept that thought to himself.


    Patience was something Ellis nevercked when it came to Hadley.


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