Chapter 3 Asking For Money From Him

Upon seeing Hadley on the couch, Eric's expression grew sharp with annoyance. "Why wasn't the door answered?"

Silently, Hadley muttered to herself, "I lacked the strength to even get up," but she left her thoughts unspoken, simply shaking her head in response.

Hadley was acutely aware that any attempt to explain herself would merely be seen as an excuse by Eric.

To someone who harbors disdain for you, even the act of breathing could seem like a fault.

Overwhelmed by an uncomfortable feeling, Hadley went directly to the heart of the matter. "What brings you here?"

She thought he wanted nothing to do with her.

"Do you actually think I came here willingly?"

With a sneer, Eric made no effort to mask his contempt as he glanced coldly at Hadley. "Grandma sent me to escort you to the airport."

That was how things stood.

Hadley asked herself bitterly, "Why did I even harbor any hope?"

"Is your luggage upstairs?"

The impatience in Eric's voice was unmistakable. Spending even a moment with Hadley was clearly something he found almost unbearable.

Hadley nodded, but then quickly added, "It's upstairs, but I haven't finished packing yet..."

She had planned to finish packing the previous night, but overwhelming fatigue and sickness had caused her to fall asleep prematurely.

"What?"

A shadow crossed Eric's face as his irritation flared. "You've had all day and still haven't managed to pack your bags?"

He fixed a stern gaze on Hadley, who appeared bewildered and unresponsive. Eric guessed bitterly. "Is she trying to delay her departure?"

"Don't just stand there; get moving and finish your packing!"

"Alright," Hadley responded with a vacant nod, turning to ascend the stairs swiftly.

Making her way up, Hadley felt each step caused her to break out in a cold sweat. She sensed that something was amiss. Hesitantly, she touched her forehead.

It was unmistakably hot, her breathing labored as if each breath scorched her lungs.

Clearly, she was running a fever.

The fever was probably a result of being soaked in the rain yesterday.

Hadley's initial reaction was to search for some cold medicine in her room. Just as she was about to take one, she hesitated.

Remembering her pregnancy, she knew she couldn't take the medicine.

Although she hadn't decided whether to keep the baby, she felt a responsibility to protect it while it was still part of her.

"Ugh..."

A wave of nausea hit Hadley hard, causing her to groan.

She clutched her mouth and hurried to the bathroom, where she retched into the toilet until she felt completely empty.

Afterward, she turned on the tap, rinsed her mouth, and splashed her face with cold water to soothe her burning skin.

"Hadley!"

Eric's voice, deep and slightly raspy, echoed with a note of exasperation.

Impatient from waiting, he had come upstairs to check on her progress.

Noticing she still wasn't ready, he demanded, "Hadley, what's taking so long? Get out here!"

"On my way," replied Hadley, dabbing her face with a towel. She emerged from the bathroom, her complexion ashen, her voice a faint murmur.

"Eric," she whispered. "Might I request to leave a day later?"

Her health was so precarious that she worried about becoming sick on the flight.

Should she fall ill on the plane, she would be entirely alone, without assistance.

"Why for?" Eric asked, his expression clouding with suspicion.

"What's your scheme now? Yesterday, you tried to see Linda at the hospital, and I had to stop you. Are you attempting something else today?"

Did he truly have such a low opinion of her?

"It's not what you think..." Hadley replied, her eyes widening with the effort to restrain her tears.

"I feel very sick. I need to consult a doctor..."

"Enough of this!" Eric interjected sharply, not allowing her to explain further.

He examined her face briefly before a slight smirk appeared. "Feigning illness again? You expect me to believe that?"

His voice took on a cold edge. "Even if you are sick, how serious could it be? Linda has just lost a child and is still in the hospital, while you're here, perfectly upright! You'll cope. It's not the end of the world!"

Hadley reeled from his words, her face a picture of astonishment. "I..."

Eric paid her no mind, moving swiftly to the closet to retrieve the already packed suitcase.

"Leave whatever isn't packed. Just buy what you need when you get there! It's all coming from my family's funds anyway. I can't afford to linger here with you."

With that, he grabbed the suitcase and stormed downstairs.

Hadley's lip quivered as pain gripped her heart. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, which she smeared away with the back of her hand.

She might as well leave.

Whether here or somewhere foreign, did it really matter?

Isolated, unloved-her plight seemed invisible to others, her existence negligible.

At the airport, Eric was nowhere to be seen. Instead, his assistant, Phillips Brown, took care of the check-in process and walked Hadley to the security checkpoint.

"Have a safe trip, ma'am," Phillips said as he handed her the passport and boarding pass. "Please call Mrs. Flynn upon your landing. Your living expenses will be forwarded to you each month."

Hadley responded with a subdued nod, "I understand. Thank you."

She then proceeded through the boarding gate.

......

A month had passed. Now, deep into the night in an apartment in downtown Blathe, Hadley was hunched over in bed, too terrified to turn on any lights or make noise.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The sound of forceful knocking jolted the door. Outside, her fat, middle-aged landlord shouted, "Senorita! Are you there? Your rent is overdue! I know you're inside! Respond!"

Hadley pressed her hands over her ears, squeezed her eyes shut, and shook her head, silently wishing the landlord would just go away.

After enduring the quiet for a while, it seemed the landlord finally gave up. "Thinking you can avoid paying by hiding? Oh, sweetheart, that's just naive! Are you really not there?"

He continued muttering to himself, "It's getting late. I hope she's safe."

The pounding at the door eventually ceased, and the sound of the landlord's footsteps slowly faded away.

Hadley took her hands away from her ears, breathing out a lengthy sigh of relief.

She had managed to avoid the landlord today, but the question of what to do tomorrow lingered in her mind.

Gently pulling her phone from beneath her pillow, Hadley scrolled through her contacts to find Nyla's number.

It had been nearly a month since she arrived in Blathe, yet the living expenses she was promised had not been sent. She had been trying to reach Nyla for days now, but all her calls had gone unanswered.

She inhaled deeply and pressed the call button once more.

Still, no one answered.

Feeling more isolated, Hadley wondered who else she could turn to.

Eric was her only option left.

With a moment's hesitation, she found Eric's number, dialed, and the call connected.

"Hello."

The familiar deep and slightly hoarse voice of Eric answered.

Nerves made Hadley's mouth dry. "I... it's me."

"What do you want?" Eric asked, his voice tinged with annoyance.

Surprised by his harsh tone, Hadley stuttered, "I tried to reach Nyla, but her number seems to be disconnected."

Eric responded coldly, "Why do you need Grandma? You just left, and you're already trying to pull her back into your problems?"

"No..." Hadley quickly clarified. "That's not it..."

Eric didn't let her finish. "Don't bother trying to contact Grandma. I've changed her number to keep you from disturbing her."

Hadley stood speechless, tears starting to form in her eyes.

She knew Eric couldn't stand her, but wasn't her leaving the country enough?

Did he really have to cut her off from Nyla too?

Nyla had always shown her kindness, and she cherished their bond.

"Anything else?" Eric's voice was losing patience. "We sent you abroad to become more self-reliant, not to continue relying on us like you've done all your life. I'm going to hang up now!"

"Wait, please!" Hadley interjected quickly, desperation clear in her voice. "It's regarding the living expenses... they haven't been sent yet."