Rapidly drying her tears, Hadley rose, smoothed her hair, and opened the door.
With a forced smile, she said, “Nyla.”
Nyla examined Hadley, noticing her red, swollen eyes-evidence of a night spent crying. Despite understanding Hadley’s distress, Nyla struggled to overlook her recent actions.
Nyla seated herself on the sofa, gesturing for Hadley to sit too.
“Sit with me.”
“Alright.” Hadley braced herself for what was coming; she sensed a change in Nyla’s demeanor towards her.
Nyla said, “Remember you once mentioned wanting to study abroad? I’m arranging that for you. You’ll leave as soon as possible.” The decision to send Hadley away was clear.
Hadley’s gaze dropped, and once more, tears started to fall.
Nyla looked at the girl with pity, her affection for Hadley genuine.
Yet, with Linda still hospitalized, Nyla felt compelled to act in Linda’s defense.
Nyla steeled herself, took a deep breath, and said firmly, “You must learn to moderate your behavior. At times, you are overly assertive. It’s one thing to be protective, but your jealousy-even towards Linda-is uncalled for. She’s engaged to your brother-in-law!”
Struggling to contain her emotions, Hadley whispered, “I…” Did Nyla also doubt her sincerity?
“It’s time for you to pack.”
Nyla rose from her seat, giving Hadley a lingering look.
“Once you’ve shown some improvement, I’ll arrange for someone to bring you back, okay?”
With these words, Nyla walked away.
Hadley quickly got up to walk her out.
Left alone, Hadley felt a hollow emptiness inside her.
Out of nowhere, she was hit by a wave of nausea so intense it made her stomach churn.
Catching her breath, Hadley clasped her hand over her mouth. Hastily, she made her way to the bathroom.
After relentless waves of nausea that felt like a storm raging inside her, Hadley ended up in the hospital.
“Doctor, what’s happening to me?”
She sat nervously in the waiting area while the doctor examined her test results.
Pausing for a moment, the doctor looked at her curiously and inquired,
“Are you married?”
There was a pause before Hadley responded affirmatively,
“Yes, I am.”
“Congratulations,” the doctor finally announced. “You’re pregnant.”
The news momentarily took Hadley’s breath away, her eyes widening as she processed the information.
The recent summer heat had been oppressive, causing her to lose her appetite and frequently feel nauseous.
Hadley had assumed it was the heat or perhaps the greasy food.
Now, she questioned,
“Is this what morning sickness feels like?”
Had this revelation come before the events of the previous night, it would have been a joyous occasion for Hadley. But now, everything had changed.
Hadley paused, and then voiced her concern to the doctor.
“Is there any chance this is a mistake? Could there be an error in the diagnosis?”
“When did you last have your period?”
Upon thinking back, Hadley’s expression changed as she made the connection.
“I’m… a week late.”
The doctor gestured expansively as he handed over the test results.
“Here’s your answer,” he said, pushing the document towards her. “See for yourself. The blood test is quite clear. You’re definitely pregnant.”
Hadley’s eyes were drawn to the bolded words “early pregnancy” on the report, underscored by the doctor’s signature.
She took a deep breath, picked up the report, and softly said,
“Thank you, doctor.”
Leaving the hospital, the harsh rays of the summer sun prompted tears to gather in her eyes.
With her eyes closed, Hadley whispered to herself,
“What am I going to do?”
Her marriage to Eric was still new, barely two months old, and their physical relationship had been limited-quick and infrequent.
Hadley had previously thought that Eric simply wasn’t interested in being intimate, and frankly, she didn’t enjoy their encounters much; they were just too painful. Now, the painful truth hit her.
It wasn’t the intimacy he was averse to. It was her.
The rare occasions they had been intimate were probably just to fulfill Nyla’s wish to produce a Flynn heir.
Now, Hadley found herself pregnant at the most unfortunate moment.
“What should I do?” Hadley pondered once more.
Was it right to keep the baby?
At only twenty, the gravity of such a decision overwhelmed Hadley.
She felt too inexperienced to handle it on her own.
She decided she must speak with Eric.
He was, after all, the father.
Currently, Eric was at the hospital where Linda was recovering from her miscarriage, having set up a makeshift office in her room.
When Hadley tried to enter, she was halted by Eric’s security, Xander and Theodore Todd.
“Mrs. Flynn, you must stop here. You’re not allowed inside.”
Confused, Hadley blinked and asked,
“Why?”
“The order comes directly from Mr. Flynn,” they replied.
Eric’s orders?
Did he think she would harm Linda again, or was he concerned Linda might be distressed by her presence?
Hadley bowed her head, feeling a mix of defeat and desperation, yet a trace of resolve lingered.
Hadley pleaded,
“I don’t need to enter. Just let him know I must speak with him. It’s urgent.”
The two bodyguards looked at each other.
“We’ll relay your message.”
Theodore went inside to inform Eric of her request.
Eric dismissed the request coldly once Theodore delivered it.
“I won’t meet with her,” he instructed. “Make sure she doesn’t come near this room and disturb Linda.”
“Understood, Mr. Flynn,” Theodore responded before returning to deliver the news to Hadley.
Upon hearing the stern rejection, Hadley’s face drained of color, and her hands began to shake uncontrollably.
“Mrs. Flynn, it’s best you leave now. Miss Harris might awaken any moment, and it would be problematic if she saw you here.”
“I’m going now.”
Hadley’s lip quivered as she bit down hard, drawing blood, though she hardly noticed.
Exiting the hospital, Hadley paused abruptly, rooted to the spot.
She couldn’t just walk away!
Tomorrow, she was scheduled to fly overseas, to a place where everything would be strange and unfamiliar, leaving her even more isolated.
Determined, Hadley chose to stay by the entrance, hoping to intercept Eric as he left the hospital.
As the hours ticked by, her legs grew stiff with cold. Darkness fell, and a sudden downpour drenched the evening.
Hadley began to fear that Eric might spend the night in the hospital, but then he appeared.
The soft illumination from the streetlights enhanced Eric’s striking appearance as he walked out.
“Eric!” Hadley called out, dashing towards him.
Eric’s expression turned into a deep scowl.
“Stop her!”
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