Chapter 626

Chapter 626:

Hadley shot him a sharp look. “Eric! Enough already!” She raised a fist in mock warning.

“Okay, okay!” Eric lifted his hands in surrender, then, with a teasing grin, mimed zipping his lips shut.

Hadley turned on her heel and jogged toward the building.

“Slow down!” Eric’s voice followed her, laced with concern. “Doesn’t your stomach still hurt? It’s only the second day! I’ll pick you up tonight—don’t even think about leaving on your own!”

The more he talked, the more irritated she became. Since when was he this chatty? Annoyed, she quickened her pace, pretending not to hear him.

The dance troupe was bustling with activity today.

Since there weren’t any sessions scheduled that morning, Hadley took the opportunity to stretch in the practice room, enjoying a rare moment of quiet—until a familiar voice called out.

“Hadley!”

She turned to see Elissa beaming at her from the doorway. But she wasn’t alone. Beside her stood a woman with striking features, someone Hadley hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Look who’s here!” Elissa announced.

Hadley’s breath hitched for a second before recognition clicked. “Alice?”

“Hadley!”

The woman—Alice Carrillo—grinned as she hurried forward, pulling Hadley into a warm embrace, exchanging cheek kisses in greeting.

To an outsider, they might have seemed like old friends catching up.

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But the truth was far deeper than that.

Hadley and Alice weren’t just friends. They were both survivors.

She was the dancer from Blathe’s Red Choreography—the girl who had been strapped to a bomb alongside Hadley, the one who had carried Hadley’s unconscious body to safety despite the chaos.

“It’s so good to see you!” Alice said, pulling back slightly, her eyes warm with relief.

“Same here!”

Hadley studied her, curiosity flickering in her gaze. “What brings you to Srixby? Are you here with the troupe?”

“Yeah!” Alice nodded. “After everything that happened, we couldn’t perform locally anymore.”

The Red Choreography’s central hall had been bombed—rebuilding it would take time, a lot of time. Resuming performances in Blathe simply wasn’t an option for now.

Alice continued, “The boss arranged a tour, so we’ve been hopping from venue to venue, wherever we can find space.” She flashed a playful smile, pointing between herself and Hadley. “And since we had a layover in Srixby, I figured I had to come see you.”

Then, with a teasing glint in her eyes, Alice gestured between them dramatically. “So… does this mean we’re officially—”

“Friends bonded by life and death!” Hadley finished with a grin.

Alice laughed, delighted. “Yes! Friends bonded by life and death!”

Hadley made sure to give Alice a warm and genuine welcome—after everything they had been through together, it was the least she could do.

Since Alice had a flight to catch in the evening, their time together was limited, so they settled on lunch, with Elissa joining them.

With Hadley’s arm still in a sling, they didn’t venture far. Instead, they chose a nearby restaurant, one that served authentic Srixby cuisine, eager to introduce Alice to the local flavors.

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