Chapter 502

Chapter 502:

Hadley followed her gaze to the dress—only to notice that someone else had already set their sights on it.

“Hadley?” The surprise in Linda’s voice was unmistakable. Her grip on the gown loosened as realization dawned. “So… this dress belongs to you.”

Hadley met her gaze, an easy smile playing on her lips. “Looks like it. Do you like it?”

“I do,” Linda replied without hesitation. She ran her fingers over the fabric one last time, reluctant to let go. “I really like it—everything, from the silhouette to the finer details.”

She hesitated for a moment before adding, “Tonight is Ernest’s first public appearance at Flynn Group’s events since his recovery. I want to stand beside him looking my best.”

Hadley raised a brow but said nothing.

For a brief moment, Linda seemed to wrestle with herself. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, she stepped back. “It’s fine,” she said at last, a tinge of sadness in her voice. “I shouldn’t have set my heart on something that wasn’t mine. Don’t worry. I won’t compete with you. It’s yours.”

Hadley almost laughed out loud. That tone. The way she said it—as if she were the one being magnanimous, as if she were doing Hadley a favor.

In the past, such a confrontation would have already erupted with Hadley. However… this time, she simply offered a smile as she scrutinized the dress. It truly was exquisite.

Linda had claimed it suited her taste to perfection—and she wasn’t wrong. Whether deliberate or not, Eric had chosen a style Linda would adore, even though the dress was meant for Hadley. It was clear he always held Linda close to his heart.

It was the pearl hair tie situation all over again. Hadley believed Eric must have envisioned Linda while ordering this dress. Thinking back to her welcome-back party when she first returned to Srixby, she recalled how the dress Eric picked then had also been identical to Linda’s.

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A subtle smile played on Hadley’s lips. She turned to the shop assistant and said, “Please give this dress to Miss Harris.”

“Excuse me?”

“This.”

Surprise registered on both the shop assistant’s and Linda’s faces. Linda’s excitement was evident. “Really? You’re giving it to me?”

“That’s right,” Hadley confirmed with a nod.

The shop assistant wavered. “But Miss Pearson, Mr. Flynn ordered this specifically for you.”

“No worries.” Hadley remained unbothered. “Since he bought it for me, I own it. That means I can give it away if I choose, correct?”

“Well, yes.” The assistant hesitated but recognized the truth in her words.

“Good, it’s decided then.”

Unable to contain her excitement, Linda immediately grabbed the dress and hurried to the fitting room. “Could someone assist me?”

“Right away, Miss Harris!”

As Linda joyously stepped inside, the first shop assistant expressed concern to Hadley. “Miss Pearson, would you be interested in seeing some other dresses? We have a large selection.”

With a calm smile, Hadley responded, “There’s no need. I’m ready to leave now, thank you.”

She confidently exited the shop, feeling a weight lifted from her shoulders. Perfect! Now that she was without the dress, there was no obligation to attend the evening’s party. Surely she couldn’t show up in her workout clothes.

Exiting the store, Sebastian promptly approached her and asked, “Miss Hadley, have you finished with the dress already? That was quick.”

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