?Chapter 1300:

    But this? This time was different. This felt like he was losing her for real.

    “Let go of me!” Hadley thrashed in his arms, fighting with everything she had.

    “Hadley, don’t leave!” Eric held on tightly, his grip firm and desperate. Exhausted, Hadley copsed in his arms. And finally, the tears came and fell quietly down her cheeks.

    “How long are you going to keep hurting me?”

    “Hadley?” Eric mumbled, helpless as she wept in his arms.

    “You told me… You said I was the only one. That you’d never cheat. You lied to me. You lied!” she murmured between sobs. “I was such an idiot. I gave you a chance, and you ruined it. Just go. Leave me alone.”

    “No, I won’t!”

    “Go away!” She started struggling again, pushing against him. But no matter how hard she fought, he refused to let her go.

    “Hadley!” Eric dropped to his knees and clung to her like his life depended on it. When he looked up at her, his eyes were filled with pain and humility.

    “It’s my fault! Whatever punishment you think I deserve, I’ll take it. But please… don’t leave me. I’m begging you…”

    “Ah…” Hadley stared down at the man kneeling before her. Her head was pounding. The sight of him on his knees only made it worse. She took a shaky breath and forced herself to stay firm.

    “Get up. This doesn’t mean anything.”

    Tears stung her eyes, clouding her vision, but her voice was steady. “Eric, you’re still hung up on Linda. And now you’ve slept with A. How could I ever ept a man like you? Someone so filthy, inside and out?”

    Her words came fast, sharp with rage.

    “What do you take me for? A trash can? You think I’m so desperate I’d want garbage like you?”

    Garbage? She just called him garbage.

    Eric felt the blow like a knife to the chest.

    “Let go!” Hadley shoved him away with everything she had and ran.

    Hadley ran back to the set and dashed into thedies’ room. She turned the faucet on and sshed cold water on her face. Her makeup was ruined by tears.

    She leaned closer to the mirror and stared at her reflection. Her eyes were already swollen from crying.

    “What are you doing, Hadley? What’s wrong with you?” Hadley whispered to herself. “Why is this happening?”

    She closed her eyes and felt another wave of tears slide down her cheeks.

    She wasn’t crying because of someone else. She was crying because of herself. Because she was furious and hurt.

    It was all because of Eric. No matter how much she wanted to deny it, she couldn’t. Over the past year, he had pushed his way into her world and every corner of it.

    And she wasn’t made of stone. She was human, and humans had feelings.

    She saw what he did for her and Joy. She knew he wasn’t faking it.

    She had to admit it, even if she didn’t want to, she was moved.

    Denver and Elissa had both told her that when it came to someone chasing her, even if she couldn’t bring herself to reciprocate their feelings, she shouldn’t push them away either.

    She had taken their words to heart. She tried not to push Eric away.

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