Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't Afford Me by Thedora Birnir

Chapter 133 Do You Really

Not Know

This part of Srixby wasn’t exactly run-down, but it was a far cry from the kind of luxury Denver was used to.

Eric eased the car to a stop, his gaze flicking to Hadley in the rearview mirror. His tone was flat. “He's inside.

Go on.*

He had no intention of following.

“I'll wait here. If you decide to stay, just senda message or call.”

What if they saw each other and couldn’t bring themselves to say goodbye?

It wouldn't be surprising.

Eric clenched his jaw, barely stopping himself from snapping outright. His patience was wearing thin.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up!”

If she stalled any longer, he might just change his mind altogether.

“Oh... fine.”

Hadley couldn't tell why his mood shifted again-it was exhausting. Without another word, she pushed open the

door and stepped out.

Following the address Eric had given her, she made her way to Denver.

The stuapartment barely fit a bed and a makeshift kitchen. It wasn’t his-it belonged to a friend of his. A last

resort after his accounts were frozen and his family cut him off. Denver had nowhere else to go.

Hadley took a steadying breath before knocking. The door swung open.

“Hadley?” Denver blinked, surprise flickering into something warmer. “You-how did you even find me?”

She didn’t answer, just offered a small smile. “Can | cin?”

“Oh-yeah, of course!” He stepped aside hastily.

“Cin. Take a seat,” he added, already half-turning toward the fridge. “Want something to drink?”

“No, I'm good.” Hadley shook her head. “I cto talk.”

“Oh... Alright”

Even so, Denver grabbed a bottle of water and set it in front of her. His smile was thin, uneasy. “This is just

temporary,” he said-like he needed to convince himself more than her.

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He hadn't reached out in days. He didn’t want Hadley to see him like this-stripped of everything, barely holding

it together.

But he hadn't expected....

“Hadley He clasped his hands together, fingers twisting as he fought to steady himself. “Do you... know

everything

“Yes” Her gaze was steady as she nodded. “You know, you don’t have to do any of this. Why didn’t you just tell

your parents there's nothing between us?”

“Hadley!” Denver's voice sharpened, almost desperate.

“Don’t say that.” His voice was unsteady. “Hearing you say that hurts more than losing my home.”

She exhaled softly, her tone gentler now.

“Denver. Don’t walk away from your parents. Go back and talk to them. They're merely acting in your best

interest. ”

“Hadley...”

A heavy weight pressed against his chest. The past few days had been a nightmare, but through it all, he had

refused to break.

He had planned to find Hadley once things were stable-once he wasn’t just barely scraping by.

“You care about me, don’t you?”

Denver shook his head quickly. “I'm fine, really,” he said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “This is

just a rough patch. With my degree, I'll land a job soon, and—"

“No.” Hadley’s throat tightened. The words caught, but she pushed them out anyway. She couldn't let him brush

this off like it was nothing. “You're your family’s only son. You shouldn't have to go through this.”

“Hadley...”

“Hearout.” She took a slow, steady breath. “A real relationship should help both people grow. It shouldn't

feel like a weight dragging you down.”

Hadley met his gaze, her voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside her. “Denver, | don’t want to drag you

down. You're my only friend in Srixby-I can’t be the reason you lose everything.”

“Hadley...”

She was already on her feet, her vision blurring at the edges. “Just go home. I'm not worth the trouble. And from

now on... we won't be seeing each other again.”

Before he could say another word, she turned and ran.

“Hadley!”

Hadley pushed forward without hesitation, her heartbeat hammering in her ears. Behind her, Denver's footsteps

pounded against the pavement.

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Chapter 133 Do You Really Not Know

“Hadley!”

Inside the car, Eric spun his phone absently between his fingers. When he finally glanced up, his brows died in

mild surprise-Hadley and Denver were sprinting straight toward him.

What the hell was going on?

Before Eric could fully process it, Hadley yanked open the passenger door and scrambled inside.

“Hadley-"

“Drive!” Her voice was sharp, urgent.

“What?”

He blinked, completely thrown.

“Hadley!” Denver caught up, slamming his palm against the window. “Hadley, don’t leave-

Eric couldnt hear the words through the closed window, but Denver's desperation was plain. His mouth moved

in frantic pleas, his eyes searching Hadley’s face.

Eric glanced at her, baffled. “You two-"

“Just drive!”

Hadley squeezed her eyes shut, pressing her hands over her ears. “Now! Didn't you hear what | said?”

“Oh... got it.”

Maybe it was the raw edge in her voice-she’d never spoken to him like that before. For a split second, Eric

hesitated. Strangely, he even felt a little... intimidated. Then, without another thought, he started the car.

As they sped away, Eric flicked a glance at the rearview mirror. Denver was still chasing after them.

“Tsk.” Eric clicked his tongue, his frown deepening. “You're really just leaving him there? What the hell were you

two even talking about?”

“Drive faster!” she snapped.

Eric stiffened.

Alright.

He pressed down on the accelerator, and the car surged forward. In the rearview mirror, Denver's figure blurred,

shrinking until he was nothing but a speck-then he was gone.

Beside him, Hadley lifted her hands to her face, her fingers trembling as they covered her eyes.

Eric's heart stuttered. Was she... crying?

If she was, did that mean she really liked Denver? That leaving him had actually hurt her?

A sharp irritation clawed at Eric’s chest, his temper rising before he could stop it.

“What's wrong? Why are you crying?” His voice cout harsher than intended. “If you love him that much,

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why didn’t you just stay? Why run away?”

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< Chapter 133 Do You Really Not Know

Hadley stiffened, but then suddenly yanked her hand away from her face. “Stop the car.”

“Stop? Why?” Eric shot her a sharp look. “See that ‘No parking’ sign? We can’t stop here!”

“I said stop!” Her fingers curled around the door handle, her knuckles white. “Pull over! I'm getting out!”

“Hey!” Eric’s grip tightened on the wheel, panic creeping into his voice. “Hold still! It's not safe!”

“Pull over!”

She wasn't listening. Seeing how shaken she was, he had no choice but to give in. With a sharp turn, he pulled

the car over.

The moment it jerked to a stop, Hadley flung the door open and jumped out.

“Hadley!”

Cursing under his breath, Eric scrambled after her.

She had just been crying, and now she was storming off like she didn’t care what happened next. What if-

Whether it was sheer bad luck or scruel twist of fate, the moment Hadley stepped out, a car cbarreling

toward her.

“Hadley!”

Eric’s breath caught. His body moved before his mind could catch up. He lunged, gripping her shoulders and

yanking her back-hard. They stumbled, his arm locking around her as they slammed against the side of the

car.

One hand cradled the back of her head. The other shielded her as the speeding car tore past.

Behind them, the car rushed by.

The driver stuck his head out, his voice sharp with anger. “Trying to throw your life away? Leave everyone else

out of it! Damn!”

Hadley, still shaken, lifted her head. Eric’s eyes burned with a mix of anger and disbelief, his grip firm, as if afraid

she'd slip away again.

“Are you insane?”

His face was pale, his voice raw with frustration. “So, because you can’t have Denver, you're throwing yourself

into traffic? Then why leave him at all? Where's that stubbornness-the way you refused to let go of me? Where is

it now?”

Hadley’s expression hardened, her gaze cutting through him like ice.

“You really don’t know why | walked away?” Her voice was eerily calm, but the weight behind it was undeniable.

“You honestly don't get it?”

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