BOOKSDRAMA Chapter 26
Chapter 26 Was It Worth It
Linda was upset by Eric’s words. What did he mean she didn’t understand Hadley?
Or did he mean to say he did?
To the extent that he’d sacrificed his meal to find her?
However, once outside, Eric found no trace of Hadley.
Where could she have gone? With Nyla’s surgery still underway, it was unlikely she’d just leave.
Eric retrieved his phone and called Hadley’s number.
Hadley didn’t answer, but he already heard the ringtone. Suddenly, he realized the sound was close by.
Drawn by the ringtone, Eric headed toward the fire escape stairwell where he saw Hadley.
“Hello?” Hadley spoke into her phone, just as the call disconnected. “Huh? What’s happening?”
“What are you doing here?” Eric’s voice emerged unexpectedly from behind her.
Caught off guard, Hadley turned sharply, her eyes wide with surprise. “Eric, what brings you he
“It’s you I should be questioning,” Eric retorted, his expression tinged with irritation. “Why are you secluding yourself out here?
Come and join me for lunch. Must I really persuade you like a child?”
“There‘
o need for that!”
“Not this again!”
Eric was growing tired of the repetition. “Hadley, is that all you can say to me? We have no idea when Grandma will be out of
surgery. What if she needs you and you’ve passed out from not eating? I don’t want to deal with
that mess.”
“I don’t really need to...”
“Tell me the truth...”
Eric’s dark eyes intensified as they focused on Hadley’s face as he interrupting her. “Are you just avoiding Linda?”
What?
Hadley was taken aback. Was that his assumption?
Her silence led him to believe he was correct.
Eric’s voice, laced with a hint of sarcasm, carried through the air. “Thinking back, was it worth it? You know,
you get what you give.”
Hadley fixed her gaze on Eric, unblinking, and then abruptly questioned, “Did Linda say that?”
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Hadley pondered internally if Linda actually told Eric that she was afraid to face hey
“What?” Eric seemed puzzled by her question initially,
“Never mind...”
Hadley decided not to pursue the matter further. It felt pointless to even mention it.
Four years ago, Eric had unconditionally sided with Linda. Was there any chance he’d support Hadlay now?
Moreover, Hadley was beyond trying to vindicate herself at this point.
She simply shook her head. “It’s nothing, really,”
Hadley reaffirmed firmly. “I don’t need anything. You all go ahead and have lunch. I have my or foo
Eric was about to respond, but his attention suddenly shifted to something by the stairs.
He noticed it.
Beside Hadley’s seat was her black backpack with an open lunchbox perched on top.
The contents of the lunchbox were visible.
Inside, there were noodles accompanied by some greens.
Eric tried to spot anything else, but that was it.
He looked puzzled and a bit concerned. “Hadley, is that what you’re eating for lunch?”
“Yes,” Hadley responded, her face showing resolve.
Why would Hadley eat so little?
Eric was puzzled. Calling it plain was an understatement. What made her choose something like that?
”
Wasn’t this kind of diet harmful to her health?
The Flynn family provided Hadley with a monthly stipend. She had more than enough to live well, even by Srixby’s high
standards.
Money clearly wasn’t the issue here. There had to be another explanation.
It confirmed what Linda had suggested. Hadley was likely trying to lose weight.
“Trying to maintain your figure by eating that little?” Eric’s frustration was evident as he looked Hadley over.
“Look at yourself! You’re so thin, a gust of wind might blow you away!”
Hadley remained silent, her expression unreadable.
“Alright then,” Eric snapped, frustrated. “If you insist on starving yourself, fine. But remember, it’s your health
that will suffer, not mine!”
With a dismissive gesture, Eric spun around and left abruptly.
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Chapter 26 Was It Worth It
At last, he was gone.
Hadley took a slow, steadying breath, managed a weak smile, sat down again, and resumed eating her now cold lunch, each bite
a struggle.
The food seemed to stick in her throat, prompting her to grab her water bottle and take a few quips
Back in the lounge, Eric reappeared, his mood clearly unchanged.
Linda handed him a plate of food. “What happened to Hadley? Weren’t you able to find her?”
“Forget about her!” Eric retorted sharply. The mere thought of Hadley seemed to sour his mood further. “She’s
too caught up in her dietary fads. Just leave her to it!”
Linda gave a knowing smile as she shook her head. “I warned you, but you wouldn’t listen. Now, come on, have
some more.”
The surgery concluded successfully at two in the afternoon, and Nyla was transferred to a regular ward.
The doctor briefed Eric thoroughly on the post–operative care.
“The next 24 hours is critical. Ideally, a family member should be present. We do have caregivers, but patients
often respond better to family.”
“I’ll stay!”
Both Eric and Hadley said at the same time.
Eric looked over at Hadley, who then hesitated. “I mean, it’s really Mr. Flynn’s decision. If he stays, that’s
enough.”
The doctor suggested, “Perhaps both of you should consider staying. For one, Mr. Flynn, you might not have the
specific attentiveness that a female could offer in caring for an elder. Additionally, should any decisions need to
be made, it’s prudent for Mr. Flynn to be present.”
He paused, observing both Eric and Hadley for their reaction.
Silence fell between them.
The doctor added, “This is merely a recommendation. Ultimately, the decision is yours to make.”
“Eric...” Linda said, her expression concerned.
“Here’s what we’ll do.”
Eric resolved, addressing Hadley. “We should both stay. Would that work for you?”
“Of course.” Hadley nodded.
Her commitment to stay was personal. Nyla had looked after her for five years, and she felt indebted to her.
She had even arranged a day off with Lennon to ensure she could be there.
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“Looks like you do have some sense of duty,” Eric replied, and then turned to Linda. “Linda, you were saying?”
“It’s nothing.” Linda replied with a soft smile. “I’m just eager for Nyla to wake up. I have to return to work this afternoon and then
attend an event later.”
“No worries.” Eric offered with a warm tone.
“Grandma has always appreciated you. She understands your work commitments and I’m sure she doesn’t
mind.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Since you have work later,” Eric said glancing at his watch, “Linda, let me walk you out.”
“Sure.”
Back in the ward, Nyla remained unconscious, an oxygen mask fitted to her face as the machines around her emitted a soft
beeping. A nurse periodically checked on her.
Hadley was tasked with keeping Nyla’s lips moistened and alerting the nurse if the IV bag emptied or if any
alarms went off.
Remaining vigilant, Hadley positioned a chair next to the bed and stayed close.
As the nurse replaced the IV bag, she warned, “Fever is common after surgery. Keep monitoring her temperature.”
“I’ll keep a close watch, thank you.”
After the surgery, Nyla seemed to keep sweating, so Hadley took a warm towel and gently wiped her down.
Upon returning, Eric entered to find Hadley tenderly wiping Nyla’s hands.
He watched her careful, nurturing actions.
Raising an eyebrow, he acknowledged internally that despite her shortcomings, Hadley showed genuine compassion in caring
for Nyla.
It was a point worth acknowledging.
However, Eric’s thoughts soon returned to Linda’s loss, casting a shadow over his mood once more.
While Hadley remained inside to tend to Nyla, Eric dealt with business matters in the outer room.
As the evening approached and Eric concluded his tasks, the clock showed it was after six.
Xander and Theodore brought dinner while Phillips checked in with Eric, inquiring, “Mr. Flynn, shall we invite Hadley to join you
for dinner?”
Eric responded without hesitation. “There’s no need.”