Hadley had been pampered by Nyla while she was in the Flynn family, yes—but that was Nyla’s choice. That never meant Hadley couldn’t survive on her own.

She seemed delicate, but in truth, she was the strongest person he knew.

Stubborn. Unshakable.

Yet he—foolishly complacent and clueless—thought all she lacked in those four years was affection. He believed she had been fine in Blathe. He thought she still had everything she wanted in life and still lived like a princess, like she used to.

His chest tightened. Each breath grew harder. But this was only part of the truth—and it already hurt this much. What about Hadley? She endured it all, alone. How much pain had she buried to make it through?

That night, Hadley had a late shoot.

When Eric arrived on set, Tamara and Chelsey came to greet him.

“Mr. Scott,” Tamara said, “Miss Pearson hasn’t finished yet.”

Eric nodded. “I know. You both can go back to where you’re needed. I’ll wait here for her.” Read full story at Find?Novel.net

“Alright, Mr. Scott.”

Once they left, he stood alone, watching from a distance as Hadley filmed a scene with Draper.

It was a period drama.

The costume was heavy, but on her slender frame, it moved like silk—every gesture graceful.

He thought of the Hadley from years ago—the twenty-year-old girl. Back then, her face still held the softness of youth. Now, she had become something else entirely.

Hadley had grown up.

In places he couldn’t reach, she had suffered—and grown.

Eric turned his face away, eyes stinging. He shut them tight.

It felt like claws tearing through his chest. Sharp. Relentless. And it left deep, open wounds behind.

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When he looked up again, his eyes were glazed with a faint, unshakable haze.

Hadley didn’t know he had found out. But he didn’t really know—not all of it.

What he had was just the surface.

Eric lifted his phone and dialed.

Phillips answered quickly as always.

“It’s me.” Eric closed his eyes slightly. “I need you to look into Hadley’s years in Blathe.”

“Blathe?” Phillips sounded surprised. “Sure, but what exactly are you looking for?”

“Everything,” Eric said quietly. “Anything you can find—anything connected to her.”

“Understood,” Phillips replied, though he hesitated. “But it’s been a while… and Blathe’s not an easy place to dig through.”

It was a warning—it might not be possible.

“Just do your best.” Eric’s tone darkened. “She was there for four years. There must be something.”

“Got it.” Phillips didn’t press him further.

After ending the call, Eric gave a faint, bitter smile.

He knew. But he still couldn’t give Hadley the justice she deserved.

The least he could do was find out what she went through.

Knowing a little more was better than knowing nothing at all.

After the scene, Chelsey handed Hadley a bottle of water and pointed across the lot. Hadley looked up, lifted her long skirt slightly, and walked toward Eric.

“Why are you here? Did something happen?” she asked.

Eric didn’t speak. He only smiled faintly and studied her in silence.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Hadley narrowed her eyes. “Is something wrong?”

“You’re… truly beautiful.” Eric offered a soft smile.

There wasn’t a single sign on her face—no trace of the pain she’d buried.

It was as if the suffering had melted into her bones and vanished. And with that thought, something inside Eric crumbled. Grief swept over him like a tide all over again.

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