Chapter 532

Chapter 532:

Eric froze, mind blank for a moment. What did the doctor mean? Was it… what he thought it was?

The doctor’s next words confirmed exactly what Eric feared.

“Also, Mr. Flynn, for now, please try to avoid any… intimacy.”

Eric’s expression darkened. “Got it.” His voice came out gruff, clipped. “I’ll take my leave, then.”

Once the doctor was gone, Eric turned back to the bedroom. Without a word, he walked into the bathroom, ran a warm bath, and then returned to the bed. Leaning down, he slipped an arm beneath Hadley. The moment her body lifted slightly off the mattress, her eyes snapped open.

“What are you doing now?” she demanded. “You find me like this and you still can’t help but take advantage of me?”

Her breath hitched, but she didn’t hold back. “Go find someone else. I don’t want to see your face right now!”

A slow, heavy feeling curled in Eric’s chest. Was she trying to get under his skin? What kind of girlfriend would say that to her boyfriend?

“Hadley, I know you’re mad at me.” His gaze locked onto hers, piercing and unreadable. “But you’re mine, just like I’m yours. I’m not the kind of man who strays—who looks elsewhere when things get hard. That’s not who I am. No matter how upset you are, please don’t throw words like that at me.”

Hadley stared at Eric’s tense expression, his features set in stone.

“Are you really that mad?”

Eric said nothing. Wasn’t this exactly what she wanted? To provoke him—to push him just far enough to see if he’d crack?

Gal n o v el s . com is your destination for fiction

Hadley let out another soft chuckle, light and airy, as she looped her arms around his neck. Her fingers traced absent patterns along his collar, her touch feather-light.

“Why so serious?” she murmured, tilting her head ever so slightly. “We’re together, sure, but you don’t like me. And I don’t like you either.”

The moment those words left her mouth, Eric felt a sharp, unseen force strike through his chest. She didn’t like me? Or was she still thinking about Denver?

Hadley, blissfully unaware of the brief flicker of pain in his gaze, kept smiling. “I mean, I’m a pretty open-minded person. These days, even marriages can be open. Spouses have their own thing, no expectations, no restrictions. Why should we be any different? Don’t take this so seriously. Mr. Flynn… don’t tell me you’ve actually been faithful to Linda all these years?”

“Honestly…” Hadley continued, her fingers trailing lightly down his chest. “You might not have a real girlfriend—but you’ve always had someone, haven’t you?”

“Hadley!” Eric’s voice cracked through the air like a whip. The teasing died on her lips as his heated, frustrated stare bore into her.

“Some things don’t need repeating,” he said firmly. “So listen carefully—this is the last time I’ll say it. Linda and I were never more than friends. And whatever is between us now? It has nothing to do with her.”

He took a breath, his tone softening and growing almost hesitant. “And I don’t dislike you. Do you really not know how I feel about you?”

In one smooth motion, he scooped her into his arms, holding her close. “The bath is ready. You’ll feel better after a soak.”

Hadley’s breath hitched as he lifted her off the bed. What did he mean by not disliking her? And what about his feelings—what exactly was she supposed to realize?

Before she could gather her thoughts, the quiet click of the bathroom door sealed them inside. Eric set her down carefully, his arm steadying her as his free hand moved swiftly and confidently to unbutton her clothes.

.

.

.