Chapter 448

Chapter 448:

Then, softly, he asked, “Hadley, can I hold you? Just for a moment?”

Before she could even process his words, he was already reaching for her, arms opening as if drawn by instinct. He bent slightly and pulled her into a deep, grounding embrace.

Hadley stiffened at first, caught off guard. Her body tensed, unprepared for the sudden closeness.

“Hadley…” Denver sighed as he shut his eyes, his grip firm yet gentle. “It’s such a relief to see you standing here, safe and sound… I can’t tell you how good it feels to see you.”

Something in his voice—something raw, almost desperate—made Hadley’s resistance melt away. Slowly, she relaxed against him. She tilted her head up and offered a soft smile.

A few steps away, inside a car parked nearby, Eric watched through the window. Denver actually came all the way here?

His gaze darkened slightly. Wasn’t the guy in Prineville? How had he managed to get here so fast? He sure was attentive to Hadley’s needs, wasn’t he? Eric’s fingers tapped idly against his knee, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. His face remained neutral, but a slow chill settled behind his gaze.

What kind of luck was this? Every damn time. Every time Hadley and Denver had a heartwarming reunion, Eric somehow ended up front-row to the scene.

A realization then settled over Eric like a weight. Denver was Hadley’s boyfriend now. And him? Just the ex-husband. A relic of her past.

So what the hell was he doing here? Rushing over like he had a shot?

“Sir?” The driver glanced at Eric through the rearview mirror, noting his silence. “We’ve arrived.”

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Eric blinked, snapping back to the present. His gaze lingered for a fraction of a second longer on the hotel entrance before he leaned back, his expression unreadable.

“I’m not getting out,” he said evenly. “Take me back the way we came.”

The driver hesitated, slightly surprised by the change of plans. But he knew better than to ask questions. “Understood.”

As the car pulled away, Eric couldn’t resist one last glance in the rearview mirror. There they were—Hadley and Denver—walking into the hotel together, side by side.

Suddenly, he sat up straighter, his sharp eyes darkening.

Why couldn’t he try and win her over?

Yesterday, he had risked his life for her. He nearly died in the process. And yet…

Inside the hotel, Hadley helped Denver check in, guiding him up to his room. She gave him a pointed look, her eyes flicking toward the dark circles under his eyes.

“You should go in, take a shower, and get some actual sleep,” she said, her arms crossed.

Denver chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, yeah, I know.”

But instead of heading in, he reached for her hand, his grip warm and steady. “Hadley…” His voice softened, hesitant but firm. “We originally agreed to wait until we got back, but… can we move it up?” He was talking about making things official.

Hadley understood immediately.

She hesitated, weighing her thoughts carefully. “Let’s talk about it after you’ve had a good sleep, okay?”

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