Chapter 637

Chapter 637:

“Seriously?” Eric’s disbelief turned colder, sharper. “That’s it?”

A sharp scoff escaped Eric, his disbelief turning into something colder, sharper. “I waited for you all night, Hadley,” he said, his voice edged with restrained anger. “And you ditched me—for a housemate?”

“Yes,” Hadley lowered her gaze, her fingers curling slightly in her lap. She knew she had let him down. She had broken their plans, and he had every right to be upset.

And yet—she couldn’t risk pushing him too far right now.

So instead, she softened her voice, reaching for whatever fragile truce she could manage. Hadley inhaled deeply, steadying herself before meeting Eric’s gaze.

Her voice was quiet but sincere. “I’m sorry for not showing up. It was my fault… I—”

“Save it,” Eric’s voice sliced through her apology, sharp with frustration.

“Just tell me the truth, Hadley,” he pressed, his eyes fixed on her, unrelenting. “What was so important that you blew me off? That you couldn’t even pick up the damn phone?”

Hadley’s fingers clenched in her lap. She averted her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t tell you.”

“Can’t tell me?” Eric snapped. “What kind of answer is that?”

Something inside Eric snapped. His fingers instinctively tightened around her shoulders, not in anger, but in sheer frustration.

“What am I to you, Hadley?” His voice was rough, unsteady—a storm barely contained. “You disappear on me, ignore me all night—and I don’t even deserve a real answer? Do you have any idea—do you even know—”

How he had spent the last agonizing hours?

Caught between the gut-wrenching fear that something had happened to her and the fury that she had completely disregarded their plans. Torn between worrying about her safety and resenting her silence.

And now, after all that, she was refusing to even tell him why?

“Hadley, I’m your boyfriend. Do I mean nothing to you?” His voice dropped, raw with disappointment. “Do my feelings not matter to you at all?”

For a moment, she said nothing. Then, in barely more than a whisper, she murmured, “I’m sorry. It was my fault.”

That was it? That was all?

Eric’s lips curled into a cold, humorless chuckle—a hollow sound that carried no amusement, only resignation. His expression shifted, his gaze hardening as if something inside him had finally given up.

“Do whatever you want.” Eric released his grip on Hadley, his hands shifting to the steering wheel as he restarted the car.

As the vehicle rolled forward, his voice finally broke the heavy silence. “Are you coming with me?”

Hadley, momentarily caught off guard, blinked before nodding quickly. “Of course.”

But even as she answered, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling curling in her chest. His tone was detached. His expression—cold, unreadable. He was really angry.

The drive back to Silver Villas was silent. Eric didn’t look at her. Didn’t speak. It was as if she wasn’t even there.

When they arrived, he parked the car and got out, walking straight inside—upstairs, without a single glance back.

Hadley sighed softly and then followed.

Upstairs, she expected him to head for the bedroom, but he didn’t.

Instead, he went straight to the study. She hesitated before following, stopping outside the door. Raising a hand, she knocked gently. “Eric?”

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