Chapter 32

Chapter 32:

He appeared to be waiting for her and immediately turned to speak as she emerged.

“Let’s go.”

Hadley instinctively declined.

“There’s no need…”

Wasn’t he supposed to depart with Linda? She preferred not to stir any drama. Enough had transpired for one evening.

Eric’s patience thinned rapidly.

“I brought you to this event, and I’ll ensure you don’t leave by yourself. Moreover…” His eyes flicked back towards the room.

“Grandma would be displeased if she learned we left separately.”

He then grasped her wrist firmly.

“Enough discussion. Now let’s go!”

“Release me!”

As their skin made contact, Hadley experienced a startling zap, reminiscent of an electric shock, prompting her to jerk her hand away from Eric.

“What?” Eric paused, looking at his hand in surprise. “Are you really pushing me away like this, Hadley?”

Turning her head aside, Hadley muttered, “I can manage on my own. I’ll just walk behind you.”

“What?”

With a raised eyebrow and a hint of sarcasm, Eric responded, “You’re avoiding my touch?”

He moved closer, his irritation evident.

“Do you think I’m eager to hold you? Had you not been lagging, I wouldn’t have needed to. Your overreaction is really unnecessary.”

Hadley cast her eyes downward, her eyelashes casting shadows as she stayed quiet.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁: ⲅⲁⳑ𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⫺𝖼𝗈𝗆

Eric scoffed and spun around. “Just keep up!”

“Alright.”

Hadley gave a nod, quietly breathing a sigh of relief. She might have been overreacting, but it was involuntary.

As soon as his fingers grazed hers, a chill reminiscent of a serpent’s touch crept across her skin.

This sensation filled her with revulsion and unease.

Instinctively, she withdrew her hand.

Eric’s brisk pace soon created a gap between them, and his glance back at her carried a shadow of annoyance.

“Could you possibly move any quicker?”

“Sure!”

Hadley hastened her steps to keep up with him.

Eric’s gaze narrowed as he pondered the recent interaction. Had Hadley really just rejected him?

He recalled a time when she scarcely could bear to be apart from him…

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