“Thief! Stop that woman!”

“Seize her!”

Footsteps thundered behind her.

Realization dawned on her; escape was impossible.

Tripping over, Hadley fell forward, twisting instinctively to protect her baby from the impact.

“Caught you!” exclaimed a store clerk, securing her before she could move.

“Where are you headed in such a hurry? What did you steal? Hand it over!” demanded the clerk, forcefully pulling her bag and emptying its contents on the ground.

“Is this baby formula and diapers? You took these?”

“See this? She’s carrying an infant!”

Hadley closed her eyes tightly, overcome with shame. She wished she could just vanish. She’d lost it all. Her dignity was shattered beyond repair.

Yet, as she clutched her baby tighter, she realized that surrender wasn’t an option. She had no right to give up.

Time had swiftly flown by; it had been three years… At Srixby International Airport,

As she navigated her way through the terminal, Hadley’s appearance was noticeably vibrant. Her gaze was alert, her eyes serene with an unwavering peacefulness that belied her age.

She soon noticed Sebastian Mitchell, the Flynn family’s driver, holding up a sign bearing her name.

Approaching him with a reserved smile, Hadley said,

“Sebastian.”

Upon observing Hadley, a flicker of astonishment crossed Sebastian’s features.

“Are you really Mrs. Hadley Flynn?”

C𝓉𝑟𝓎 𝒽𝒾𝑒𝑟 𝒶t g𝓪l𝑛ovєls.𝓬○𝓶

“That’s me,” Hadley replied, her smile softening.

The transformations in her over the years were not lost on her; she had slimmed down and even grown a bit, thanks to a late growth spurt.

“You’ve undergone quite the transformation.”

Sebastian’s initial shock gave way to a warm grin.

“You look even lovelier than you did before.”

“Your flattery is generous, Sebastian.”

“Let’s head out.”

Following their brief conversation, Sebastian escorted Hadley from the airport.

“The vehicle’s parked right up front. Mrs. Nyla Flynn has been eagerly anticipating your arrival and has mentioned you several times over the past few days.”

Hadley proceeded to the car and settled inside.

As they drove away, it dawned on her that only Sebastian had come to meet her; Eric was notably absent…

Soon, they arrived at Tranquille Sanatorium.

Nyla was dealing with a serious heart issue and was due for an impending surgical procedure.

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