?Chapter 2959:


    She couldn’t bring herself to keep something so valuable. She’d purposely kept them from him, knowing exactly how Eric would react.


    She gave him a pointed look. “And this is exactly why I didn’t want to show you. You insisted, and now you’re just sulking over nothing.”


    He was only tormenting himself for no reason.


    The thought of his beloved once being treasured by another man stirred an ufortable knot in Eric’s chest.


    “Wait…” He suddenly remembered something. “You said you were nning to return these to Ellis?”


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    “Yes,” Hadley replied, a touch of confusion in her tone. “Why? Is there a problem?”


    Did he actually think she should keep them?


    “No,” Eric said quickly, shaking his head. “I just mean… you’re nning to meet him in person?”


    Hadley hesitated. That was true. “Yes, but I’m only returning his things,” she said.


    Something this valuable had to be handed back in person, just to be safe.


    “There’s no need for you to do this yourself.” Eric’s voice firmed, his jaw tightening.


    He didn’t want her anywhere near Ellis. After all, the man was clearly still holding on. What if he tried to pull something again? Better to avoid that risk entirely.


    “Give them to me,” Eric said. “I’ll take care of it.”


    Hadley blinked, uncertain. “But…”


    Then she reconsidered. Eric wouldn’t keep the items—if anything, he was more eager than she was to get rid of them.


    “Alright,” she agreed atst, giving him a small nod. “Just be nice, okay? Don’t make a scene.”


    “Rx,” Eric said with a low chuckle. “It’s nothing serious. I won’t even have to face him myself—you can stop worrying.”


    After a brief pause, he added, “Did he give you anything else? If there’s more, let’s send it all back.”


    “No, that’s everything,” Hadley said, shaking her head.


    They hadn’t known each other long, nor spent much time together.


    Eric gave a sardonic grin. “Ellis really is stingy, isn’t he?”


    Hadley stared at him, exasperated. “Are you finished?”


    It had only been a few minutes, and Eric was already dripping with sarcasm.


    Seeing the irritation on her face, Eric mped his mouth shut. “I’m done,” he muttered, though inwardly he cursed Ellis for ruining what little time he and Hadley had together.


    Then his gaze shifted, softening as he noticed her outfit.


    “Is that new?” he asked, looking her up and down. “Looks beautiful.”


    Hadley looked down at herself, puzzled. She’d simply showered and changed into somethingfortable—a dress with wide straps and vertical lines, in but easy to wear.


    Beautiful hardly seemed the right word.


    “Yes,” Eric said firmly. “It’s beautiful.”


    He took her hand, his thumb brushing over her skin, slow and deliberate. With each touch, his gaze deepened, his breathing heavier.


    Then, without warning, he drew her close.


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