?Chapter 2954:


    “Nothing’s funny.”


    But as he watched her pretend to be mad, Eric’sughter faded and his face grew serious.


    “Hadley, why didn’t you tell me that Ellis was threatening you?”


    Hadley pressed her lips together and fell silent, unsure how to answer.


    “If you don’t tell me, should I just guess?” Eric’s smile turned a little bitter. “Were you afraid I would pester you if I knew? And maybe you weren’t sure if you wanted to spend your life with me. And you were scared that we’d break up again?”


    Hadley was left speechless.


    Hadley looked up suddenly, meeting his gaze. Eric understood; he could see it all.


    “Humph.” Eric let out a dissatisfied breath, lowering his head to rest gently against hers. “Do you really not trust me?”


    He could not me her, not after everything. After all these years, she had suffered so much because of him, carrying heavy emotional scars.


    “And now?” Their foreheads touched, and Eric bent his knees a bit, trying to meet her at eye level, even if it made him feel a little awkward. “Can you trust me now?”


    Well… Hadley pressed her lips together and said softly, “I don’t know. Let’s see.”


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    But the fact that she didn’t refuse him outright gave him hope.


    Eric’s lips curved into a smile, his dark eyes full of light. He was nervous, his voice rough as he said, “Hadley, I… I want to kiss you.”


    “What?” Hadley froze, stunned for a moment.


    In the next instant, Eric lifted his hands, gently cupping her cheeks as he leaned in.


    But just as his lips were about to touch hers, the phone rang.


    “Ignore it!” Eric frowned. “Let’s just continue!”


    “No.” Hadley quickly put her hand over his mouth and nudged his chin, whispering, “Check who’s calling!”


    The phone kept ringing.


    “Ugh…”


    With a reluctant sigh, Eric picked up the phone.


    “It’s Grandma.”


    He quickly answered, “Hello?”


    “Eric,” N said on the other end of the line. “Hadley forgot her phone when she left. The nurse said you went looking for her. Did you find her?”


    “Grandma…”


    Standing beside him, Hadley took the phone from Eric and said, “It’s me, N. Are you awake?”


    A bright smile appeared on her face.


    “I got the pastries. I’ll be back soon, so please wait for me.”


    “Alright.”


    “See you soon.”


    Hadley hung up and handed the phone back to Eric.


    “N’s awake, so I need to head back.”


    Then she looked at him and asked, “What about you? Are youing?”


    Before he could answer, she added, “It’s tough to find parking around here, so I came by taxi…” And honestly, she was not the best driver.


    She pointed at Eric and said, “Perfect, you can drive me. Where did you park?”


    Pointing ahead, she continued, “I saw youe from over there, so your car must be parked nearby, right?”


    Without waiting for a reply, she walked ahead.


    After a few steps, she turned around and saw Eric still standing there. Teasing him, she called out, “Come on! What are you thinking about?”


    “I’ming!”


    Eric jogged over to catch up with Hadley.


    The more he thought about things, the less at ease he felt.


    “Hadley.”


    He reached out and wrapped one arm around her waist, his other hand cradling the back of her head as he gently drew her into his embrace.


    At the same moment, he lowered his head.


    He closed his eyes and kissed her, softly but deliberately.


    “Mm…” Hadley opened her eyes wide in surprise and gently reminded him, “N is still waiting…”


    She had unwittingly given him a chance.


    “Doesn’t matter! Let me kiss you first!”


    He grinned and bargained with her, “Five minutes! Just five minutes! Hadley, nothing can evere between us now. Only death could part us.”


    Hadley didn’t answer.


    In her heart, Hadley silently agreed. She closed her eyes, letting the rush of emotion wash over her.


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