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

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Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't AffordNow

Chapter 150 Hopeless Romantic

“Hey, are you listening?”

Noticing Hadley frozen in place, the assailant grabbed her arm impatiently and pulled her up.

“Hadley!”

Next to her, Elissa attempted to intervene but was quickly subdued at gunpoint. “Don’t move!”

“And you over there!”

Another dancer from Red Choreography, roughly Hadley’s height, was forcefully taken alongside Hadley from the

dressing room.

A fleeting look passed between Hadley and the dancer, both were pale and shaking, uncertain of their fate...

The police had encircled the theater by now.

Using a megaphone, they attempted to communicate with the captors inside.

“Attention, everyone inside...”

“We have nothing to discuss! We're going to blow this place up today!”

“Please, think this through!”

The assailants showed no interest in negotiating.

Negotiations appeared to be at an impasse.

Back inside, the theater's main stage remained hidden behind an unopened curtain. Both Hadley and the dancer

were unconscious and bound to chairs.

Eric, disguised in a security guard's outfit, slipped through the curtains and onto the stage.

“Hadley!”

He dropped to one knee before her. But she gave no response.

Instead, it was the girl next to Hadley who, stirred by the noise, weakly opened her eyes.

She caught sight of Eric and started to speak.

“Keep quiet if you want to make it out of here!” Eric warned her sharply.

Her eyes darted open in surprise, blinking quickly instead of giving the usual nod.

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Eric sensed that something was amiss.

She looked toward him and silently motioned upwards.

Just then, Eric noticed that both Hadley and the girl were balancing a beam on their heads.

What on earth was going on?

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Rising to his feet, Eric found his frown deepened as he surveyed the bizarre scene.

His eyes narrowed at the discovery-it was a bomb!

At the center of the beam sat a tiny bead. Its fall to either end would set the bomb off

An unpredictable bomb!

Now, the important question was how long Hadley and the girl could maintain their fragile balance.

What were his options?

Trying to keep his cool as the clock ticked down, Eric retrieved a folding knife from his pocket, carefully

supported Hadley, and cut the ropes binding her.

Then, reaching out without shifting his weight, he extended the knife towards the girl.

“I'm about to free you. Once | do, take her and run as fast as you can.”

“What?”

Color drained from the girl's face as she shook her head. “That's too risky!”

Doubts plagued her mind about whether he could keep the beam stable. Maybe staying still was safer.

“Not up for it?”

With a sneer, Eric retorted, “Alright then, I'm taking her with me!”

“No!”

Panic surged through the girl. Him letting go now would definitely set off the bomb, likely dooming them all.

She had no choice.

“Alright!” She nodded reluctantly and said, “I'll follow your plan.”

“Think twice before you run. If you dare to escape without her, I'll let this beam fall, and it'll be the end for us

all!”

Chills ran through the girl as she blinked back her fear. “I... | get it! | won't escape on my own!”

“Good!”

Eric took a deep breath, cut through the girl's restraints, tossed the knife aside, and steadied the balanc above

her head.

Turning to her, he said, “I'm counting to three. One, two, three!”

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The girl sprang to her feet. As Eric let go of Hadley, she caught her, while Eric maintained a firm grip on the

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Chapter 150 Hopeless Romantic

“Move now!” Eric urged in a low voice, sweat dripping from his temples.

“Right!”

Nodding, the girl lifted Hadley onto her shoulders and dashed forward.

A series of loud bangs echoed!

Gunfire continued to erupt.

There were several more shots after that!

Could it be those assailants?

After a few strides, the girl paused and looked back at Eric with mixed emotions. “What about you? What's your

plan?”

“Just get moving!” Eric shouted angrily.

Why was she asking so many questions?

“If you stay, we all die!”

“Oh, okay!”

Frightened, she turned and sprinted away with Hadley.

Eric stood still, not daring to move. He curled his lips into a bitter smile. “Damn! Am I really just a fool blinded by

love?”

What should he do next?

Was this the day he would meet his end here?

He never expected his life to cto an end like this!

Was this destined to be his fate, forever hidden in the shadows?

As the girl fled with Hadley, their path was soon blocked by approaching figures. Panicked, she turned around.

“Stop! We're the police! Identify yourself! Who are you and why are you running?”

Confused and out of breath, the girl halted. Her eyes widened and tears began to stream down her face.

They were actually the police!

“Officer!”

“Quickly, bring them over here!”

“Officer!”

Handing Hadley off to someone else, she clung to the officer and pointed frantically toward the stage. “There's a

bomb there! Someone's still in danger!”

“Understood, we're on it! Fetch the bomb squad!”

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Chapter 150 Hopeless Romantic

“Right away!”

Meanwhile, back on the stage.

The police were quick to respond.

“Just hold on a bit longer.”

Eric held his breath. He couldn't really relax until the bomb was disarmed.

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The bomb expert examined the scene and suggested, “If it just needs to stay stable, couldn't we support it with

two objects of equal height?”

Eric nodded and said, “That should work.”

He had attempted this method before.

Still, the task of maintaining balance while relocating the device from the theater was daunting, How could

anyone ensure the bead wouldn’t move during the transfer?

All of a sudden, the beam began to emit a ticking sound!

“This isn’t good!”

Eric and the expert locked eyes, suddenly aware that the balance beam was linked to a more complex setup— a

timer was also involved!

The digital display on the beam now flashed with only five seconds remaining!

They were out of time!

“Throw it away!”

Eric's heart raced. He quickly raised his arm and swung the balance beam out of the way.

“Everyone, out now!”

On his shout, everyone scrambled off the stage.

Three, two, one... boom!

The explosion sent Eric flying. He pushed himself forward with all his strength.

The blast’s echo woke Hadley in an ambulance speeding to the hospital. A nurse was at her side.

“Are you awake? How are you feeling?”

“I'm alright.”

Hadley rubbed her neck, peered out the ambulance window, and saw the theater consumed by flames.

So, she was saved.

Yet, the bomb that had been hanging over her had detonated.

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Chapter 150 Hopeless Romantic

The nurse looked at her and said, “The police and fire services are handling the situation. You're faring better

than sof your colleagues.”

Hadley nodded and asked the nurse, “Can you tellhow | was saved?”

“I'm not sure. All | know is that the police brought you out to us.”

“Oh, | see. Thank you.”

“Clear the way, please!”

At the entrance of the theater, medics rushed a stretcher, quickly loading another victim.

“Let’s get to the hospital, fast!”

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