“Could she be wearing heels, though?”
A soft chuckle escaped Hadley.
She was aware of how close Linda and Eric were, but the idea of being mistaken for Linda was somewhat absurd.
They differed significantly in both height and physical appearance.
“Hello?” Abruptly, the man ahead halted to answer his phone.
“About that project, listen…”
His discussion appeared to be about some business matters.
Hadley couldn’t make sense of it and chose to disengage, remaining silent.
Suddenly, Eric increased his walking speed, forcing Hadley to hasten her steps to keep up.
Then, without warning, he faced her, a look of annoyance clear on his face.
“I have to deal with some issues, so don’t follow me.”
He then quickly walked away.
Standing there, Hadley felt a calm acceptance wash over her. She had anticipated that he might leave her behind-and he did. Now, she needed to figure out her next steps. What was she to do now? She touched her stomach, feeling the pangs of hunger. The only thing she had eaten so far was a couple of slices of bread.
Now seemed like a good opportunity to eat something more substantial.
Hadley made her way to the buffet table, grabbed a plate, and began to fill it with foods she hadn’t savored in four years…
“Linda!”
Out of nowhere, a light tap came on her shoulder.
Hadley stopped and turned around.
“Wait, what?”
The woman behind her looked familiar.
Years ago, this woman had also been infatuated with Eric. She was Danica Clifford, the heiress of the Clifford family.
Back in the day, rumors flew that Danica would have been Eric’s bride if not for Hadley.
Naturally, there was no love lost between Danica and Hadley.
“You’re not Linda. You…”
Recognition dawned on Hadley immediately, and after a moment, Danica also realized who she was facing, albeit with a brief delay.
“Is that you, Hadley?”
Danica wasn’t by herself; a group of her friends was with her. As soon as they heard the name “Hadley,” their faces registered shock.
All eyes shifted toward Hadley.
“Who? Hadley?”
“Is she really back?”
“Funny.” One of the women chuckled. “Didn’t you know? Nyla organized this whole celebration as a welcome back for Hadley.”
“I was unaware. I just knew there was a gathering and showed up. It’s quite something, Hadley’s return!”
The group of women showed clear disapproval.
“Had I known this was for her, I might have skipped it! Celebrating her return? That’s just my luck!”
“This means trouble! With Hadley back, Srixby is going to be in chaos!”
Hadley chose to ignore their remarks, letting them pass without impact, and continued serving herself. Opportunities like this were rare, and she intended to enjoy it.
She grabbed the tongs and helped herself to a brownie from the tray. Right at that moment, another set of tongs appeared, reaching for the same treats.
Glancing up, she saw Danica.
Feigning panic, Danica quickly recoiled with an exaggerated expression of surprise before saying, “Oh, please, help yourself. I wasn’t that keen on it.”
Hadley’s quiet laugh was filled with irony, seeing through Danica’s act.
It was evident that Danica hadn’t changed; she was as fake and deceptive as she had always been.
Previously, such an encounter would likely have escalated into a confrontation.
However, this time was different…
“Appreciate it.”
Hadley’s smile was faint as she took the brownie, gracefully exiting the scene.
As she walked away, the background buzz of conversation intensified.
“What happened? Did she not challenge you?”
“She’s not the person she used to be!”
Danica, with a hint of scorn, muttered, “Changed? Really? You know what they say-old habits die hard. She’s surely just putting on a show!”
Danica glanced at Hadley’s dress and gave a sly smirk. “Just watch. The real drama’s about to unfold!”
As she was speaking, her attention shifted. She noticed Linda in the distance.
Linda was elegantly clad in a beige off-shoulder gown, its hem sweeping the floor. She was beaming, arm in arm with Eric.
“Where the hell is she?”
Clearly annoyed, Eric’s brow furrowed.
Just as Nyla completed her therapy session and the party was set to begin, Hadley was nowhere to be seen. Eric had only momentarily excused himself earlier to take a call, and upon returning, he noticed she was gone.
“Try to be more patient,” Linda said, her smile conveying comfort. “Hadley might be a bit lost; it’s her first time here after all.”
Eric rolled his eyes. “If she’s unfamiliar with the area, she should just stay where she is and wait for me. Why must she always complicate things?”
“Calm down. Let me help you look for her,” Linda said, halting abruptly to point somewhere.
“Eric, look over there. Is that her?”
He raised his gaze and peered into the distance. Indeed, it was Hadley.
“Yep, that’s her,” he replied, his tone reflecting mild shock.
“She seems different than before. You recognized her quite fast.” Linda laughed softly. “Well, I am a woman, and we tend to notice more details. Come on, we shouldn’t delay the party.”
They approached Hadley together.
Hadley had a mouthful of brownie, her cheeks stuffed and crumbs clinging to her lips. The moment she spotted them, she hurriedly set the plate aside.
Eric’s expression soured. “Where are your manners? With all these distinguished guests around, can’t you at least try to look presentable?”
Was he implying that she was a disgrace to the Flynn family?
After swallowing her treat, Hadley cleaned her mouth with a napkin and nodded in silent acknowledgment, opting not to contend.
“I understand.”
Eric was visibly surprised.
What was happening? Her reaction…
This was a departure from her usual defiant demeanor. She normally would have retorted.
Now, she just remained silent.
It seemed as though he had intimidated her, which was never his intention.
“Why are you behaving like this, Hadley?” Eric inquired, his tone marked by displeasure.
“What?” Confusion flickered across Hadley’s face. “What have I done?” She believed she was merely heeding his words. Could that be wrong?
Eric struggled to find the right words, a peculiar frustration building within him.
“Alright,” Linda interjected, pulling at his arm. “There’s no need for a dispute. Nyla is expecting us.”
“Fine,” Eric muttered, barely masking his annoyance. “Come with us. It’s time for the party.”
“Sure.”
Hadley had been sitting, but at this, she placed her utensils down and rose to her feet.
“Hold on!” Linda exclaimed, her eyes fixed on Hadley.
Hadley’s expression shifted from confusion to understanding.
Both she and Linda had chosen the same gown.
That explained why Danica and others had confused her for Linda earlier.
In such a formal event, identical outfits were considered a significant social blunder. Eric caught on as well.
Linda had selected her own dress, while Hadley’s outfit was curated by Phillips from a luxury boutique. Neither Eric nor Phillips had anticipated such a mix-up.
“It’s alright,” Linda reassured with a warm smile. “It’s merely a coincidence. No need to fuss over it.”
Eric disagreed sharply. “This isn’t acceptable. Aren’t we already the subject of enough rumors?”
Wearing identical dresses at the event would surely fuel speculation of a rivalry among the Flynn women.
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