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

Chapter 155 It’s Over

Eric exhaled a long, weary sigh before reaching out to help Hadley up. With gentle fingers, he brushed away the

tears clinging to her cheeks.

His gaze lingered on the curve of her rounded shoulders, his throat tightening

“Sit here for a minute. I'll grab you sclothes.”

He rose to his feet and strode toward the walk-in closet.

After a brief moment, he stood inside and asked, “Which side of the closet holds your clothes?”

When he didn’t receive an answer, Eric reached for a familiar piece he had seen her wear before and stepped

out

Suddenly, he heard something fall onto the floor with a loud thud.

“Hadley!”

Eric’s pulse slammed against his ribs. He was at her side in a heartbeat, gathering her up in his arms.

A deep furrow creased his brow. “What just happened? How did you fall?”

A beat passed, and an unsettling thought seized him. He couldn't bring himself to believe it. “Did you do that on

purpose?”

Hadley neither looked at him nor answered.

But what else could it be? The truth was written all over her-she had done this to herself.

“Why did you jump out of bed?”

Eric’s temper flared, rising like a storm he could no longer contain. His hands tightened around her shoulders, his

grip just shy of punishing

“For what? To chase after Denver?”

Hadley’s swollen, tear-streaked eyes wavered, her lips trembling as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

Eric was livid.

“Why are you still chasing after him? Have you forgotten that he is now with his mother?!”

Eric felt a deep frustration at her lack of self-respect. “His mother has done nothing but hurt you, and yet you

are still holding on? Do you really think there is hope? Are you so naive to believe that love is just about two

people?”

Wilma despised Hadley-there was no doubt about that. And if she had been capable of harming Hadley once,

what was stopping her from doing it again?

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“What about you?” Hadley lifted her tear-streaked face, her eyes burning with raw emotion. “What does any of

this have to do with you? Why are you hurting me?”

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“I...” Eric faltered, caught off guard.

“Speak!” Her voice cracked as she suddenly shouted at him. “I'm asking you a question!”

“Like | told you before. | want you!” Eric blurted out, his agitation spilling over: “I want you, Hadley!”

She had turned him down before, and he had forced himself to walk away.

However, he realized he couldn't really let her go.

Eric’s words lingered in the air, swallowed by the heavy silence that settled over the room.

Their eyes locked, and Hadley’s expression twisted as if she had just heard the most absurd joke.

Her tears hadn't even dried, yet a chuckle escaped her lips. “Ha-ha...”

“You... Why are you laughing?” Eric stiffened. A strange unease crawled up his spine.

“Isn't it obvious? It's funny.”

Hadley blinked, pushing back the fresh sting in her eyes. “Tell me, Eric, what do you wantfor? Why do you

want me?”

Eric faltered, the question catching him off guard.

He had never thought about that question before.

Hadley studied him, her gaze piercing. “What's wrong? No answer?”

“It’s not that...” Eric shook his head in frustration. “Why does there have to be a reason?”

“In that case...” Hadley didn’t look away. She met his stare head-on. “Letput it another way, Eric. Do you

have feelings for me?”

Suddenly, Eric's spine went rigid, and a strange tingling crept up his scalp. What kind of ridiculous question

was that?

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Hadley continued.

“You don’t have feelings for me, Eric,” Hadley cut in before he could scramble for an answer.

She stared at him, her clear eyes sharp enough to slice through his defenses.

“Linda’s words are just like the law to you, aren't they? For her, you would do anything.”

What? Eric was stunned. What was Hadley implying?

Did she really think he was doing this because Linda had asked him to?

“That's not true!” Eric blurted, eager to deny it and explain.

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“Yes, it is!” Hadley didn’t want to hear another word. Iter voice dripped with scorn as she sneered. “You're

unbelievable, you know that? We have known each other for almost ten years, and you have hatedfor nearly

all of them. But now, for Linda’s sake, you suddenly want me? Isn't that ridiculous?”

“You...!”

Eric’s temper flared. His grip tightened around her shoulders, his breath turning ragged with frustration. “Is this

about Denver? Do you really like him that much?”

“Yes, | do!” Hadley lifted her chin, her voice firm and unshaken. “Denver is amazing. Why shouldn't I like him?”

Eric’s breath hitched, a strange numbness creeping into his chest. For a split second, it felt like something. inside

him cracked.

A vein pulsed in his temple as he snapped, “Shut up! | don’t want to hear another word!”

He couldn't take it anymore.

“No!”

Hadley ignored him entirely, indifferent to his thoughts. “Denver treatswell. He respects and cherishes me.

No one has ever valuedthis much. | like him! And you...”

She shot him a glare filled with pure loathing as if he were nothing more than an enemy.

Then, without a moment's hesitation, she used all her strength and slammed her forehead into his. Completely

unprepared, Eric staggered back and collapsed onto the floor.

“But it’s over now!” Hadley let out a bitter laugh between quiet sobs. “You ruined everything! It's you!”

Wait... Her phone was in her bag!

Since she hadn't fully recovered, she dropped to the floor and began crawling toward the sofa, where her bag

rested.

“What are you doing?” Eric's wary gaze followed her every movement.

However, Hadley didn’t answer. She just dragged herself across the floor.

At last, she reached out, her fingers barely brushing against the bag. She strained to pull it closer. Fortunately,

the phone was right in the side pocket.

With a sharp clatter, the phone tumbled to the floor.

Hadley exhaled in relief, her trembling fingers sliding over the screen as she slowly unlocked it.

“Hadley!” Eric crouched beside her, his voice thick with urgency as he tried to get her attention. “Think about

Wilma. It will never work between you and Denver!”

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But Hadley didn’t so much as glance at him. Her focus was on finding Denver's number and dialing it.

Her strength was failing her, so she left the phone on the floor and put it on speaker.

The call kept ringing, but no one picked up.

Hadley froze. A chill ran through her as she murmured, “No... No...”

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She redialed.

Still, no one picked up.

A sob ripped from her throat.

Tears spilled freely, hot and relentless, streaming down her face.

She knew deep down that she would never reach him again.

“Ah!”

Hadley banged her forehead against the cold floor, her body trembling as she fought to choke back her sobs.

It was over. Completely over.

She had planned to tell Denver about Joy once he had gotten srest. If he could accept Joy, maybe they could

have a future together.

Of course, she had considered the possibility that he wouldn't.

And if that happened, she would understand.

They could part on good terms and go their separate ways without resentment.

But she had never imagined it would end like this.

What would Denver think of her now? He probably hated her now, didn’t he?

He was the first person who had ever truly cherished her this much in her 24 years, and now, all that remained

between them was his hatred.

“Get up.”

Eric bent down, lifted her off the floor, and placed her on the bed. With a rough swipe of his hand, he wiped away

her tears.

“Enough! Stop crying. Face the truth. You and Denver are over.”