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

Chapter 193 I'll Just Pretend I'm Feeding A Stray

The conversation veered into dangerous territory..

“Linda!” Eric interjected, a furrow forming on his brow. “You're overthinking things. You know Ernest-once he

makes a promise, he always follows through. And he made a promise to you, didn’t he?”

“Yeah...” Linda nodded, though her agreement felt hollow.

“Try not to worry,” Eric continued, assuming his words had set her mind at rest. “Ernest would never betray you

Never?

She'd once believed that wholeheartedly. Now, she wasn’t so certain.

“Let’s just drop it,” Linda murmured, regaining her composure.

She went back to preparing breakfast, flashing a faint smile. “It’s been a while since you had my cooking. Make

sure you eat plenty later.”

“Thank you, but this was too much trouble,” Eric said. “The housekeeper will be here soon...”

“Hey, Eric.” Linda suddenly looked up and interrupted him. “I couldn't find any ketchup earlier. Did you run

out?”

“Really?” Eric stood immediately, concern creasing his forehead. “I can go out and buy some!”

“No, there’s no need!” Linda tried to stop him with a small laugh. “I only mentioned it in passing. If we have it,

great-if not, it’s fine. You know I’ve never really been a big fan of ketchup.”

“That won't work. Hadley needs it-she won't eat without ketchup. The store nearby should have some.”

“Hey, Eric...

Linda began, but he was already on his way out. She watched him go, eyes darkening slightly.

He'd been so thoughtful toward Hadley these days.

4

Eric cback later than expected, a bottle of ketchup in hand, which he placed on the table.

That took a while, Linda commented.

He explained, “The store downstairs didn’t have the brand Hadley likes, so | had to look elsewhere.” As he spoke,

footsteps sounded from the staircase-Hadley was coming down.

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Chapter 1911 Just Pretend Im Feeding A Stray

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“Hadley”

Eric stood immediately, his gaze locked on her, reading every shift in her expression.

“You're up already? This early?”

“Yeah, but | see you and Linda beatto it,” she replied with a slight smile.

Her choice of words “you and Linda“-neatly lumped them together.

Eric pushed aside the faint discomfort in his chest and took Hadley’s wrist. “Chave breakfast. Linda made

something nice for us.”

Hadley let him lead her into the dining room.

Linda was busy cooking but turned when she heard them enter. “Hadley, good morning,” she said.

Only Hadley noticed the unmistakable contempt in Linda's eyes.

“Go ahead and sit,” Eric said, letting go of Hadley’s hand. “I'll help Linda.”

He moved to Linda's side, gently guiding her away from the stovetop. “I've got this. You go sit. You've already

done so much.”

Since Linda had already put in the effort, he felt it would be rude for him and Hadley to merely wait idly for their

meal.

Linda offered him a tight smile and stepped back. “Alright. Bacon's done. You can fry sgrease-they’ll be so

great.”

That left her and Hadley alone at the table, facing each other.

“Wow!” Hadley inhaled deeply. “Smells amazing, I'll bet it tastes just as good.”

Linda's face chilled. “I didn't make them for you.”

eggs with the

“Excuse me?” Hadley lifted her eyes slowly, her lips curving in a subtle smile. “I know. But Erie insists | eat, so...

what can | do?”

“You!” Linda spat, livid at Hadley’s self-assured smirk.

In that instant, all the frustration and jealousy she'd been storing-over Eric and Ernest-croaring to the

surface

She couldn't stand seeing Hadley’s perfect yet infuriating face for even another second.

“Get out! Go! Right now!” Linda snapped.

Hadley’s easy smile vanished in an instant, replaced by an icy stare. “What did you just say to me?”

Linda’s sneer deepened, her voice low and sharp. “Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me. | said get out of here.”

Hadley shot a sidelong glance toward the kitchen, where Erie was busy plating the food.

“What do you think he'd do if | told him exactly what you just said?”

With an unimpressed arch of her brow, Linda answered coolly, “Do it. Think a few days of playing house w

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Chapter 193 Ill Just Pretend I'm Feeding & Stray

him outweighs the ten, twenty years we've known each other? Please, | insist!”

Just then, Eric emerged, carefully carrying a plate in each hand. “Breakfast’s ready!”

Linda sniffed. “If you insist on staying, then eat. I'll pretend I'm feeding a stray.”

“Hadley, Linda...” Eric placed the plates on the table, shooting them both a wary look.

Even his less-than-perfect intuition picked up on the tension.

Unsure how to handle it, he quietly sat down beside Hadley. “Sorry for the delay. Shall we eat?”

“Yes, of course,” Linda replied, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

She reached for a piece of crispy bacon-not for herself, but to extend it toward Hadley.

“Go on, Hadley. Try it. | was up before sunrise making these.”

The morsel hovered inches away, all Hadley had to do was open her mouth. But Linda's jab about feeding a

“stray” echoed in her head.

There was no way she’d take even a bite.

“Con!” Linda prodded, pushing the food closer. “My arm’s getting tired...”

Suddenly-smack!

Without fully realizing it, Hadley slapped Linda's hand away.

The fork-along with the bacon-slipped from Linda’s grip and thudded to the floor.

“Hey!” Linda sprang up in exaggerated alarm. “Hadley, what the hell is wrong with you?”

Hadley felt her stomach twist with revulsion at Linda's theatrics. She didn’t need Linda to drive her out; she'd

leave on her own.

She sprang to her feet and was ready to storm out.

“Stop!”

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Eric's voice was ice-cold as he clamped a hand around Hadley’s arm and stood.

He glowered down at her, jaw taut with suppressed anger.

“You've been throwing a fit all night, and I've let you. Hasn't that been enough?”

He glanced at the bacon lying on the floor, teeth clenched in frustration. “I’ve done my best to humor you, and

you just don’t care? You let something so trivial blow up like this?”

After a tense pause, he inhaled slowly, and then spoke again in a frosty tone. “Linda got up early to make

breakfast for us. You need to apologize to her!”

Linda tugged on his sleeve, pretending to be forgiving. “It’s okay, Eric... it's no big deal.”

“No!” Eric shook his head, gaze never leaving Hadley. “Hadley, this behavior is unacceptable. You should

apologize!”

Hadley’s eyes glinted with a razor-sharp mockery. “You really expectto apologize to her?”

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Chapter 193 111 Just Pretend Im Feeding A Stray

“Yes, | do.” Eric's voice was as cold as ice. “You were raised by my grandmother, a renowned socialite in Srixby,

so you should at least learn basic courtesy from her. When you do something wrong, you take responsibility and

apologize.

Hadley let out a scornful little laugh. “And if | don’t?”

Her unwavering defiance caught Eric off guard; his features darkened in response.

In that instant, he saw the Hadley of years ago-stubborn, proud, utterly undaunted.

Gritting his teeth, he finally snapped, “You haven't changed one bit! Four years later, and you're still as arrogant,

overbearing, and willful as ever!”

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