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

Chapter 109 It’s All In The

Past

Eric arrived at the courthouse reception area with his lawyer Cristian by his side.

“Pay attention,” Cristian instructed softly.

He glanced at Eric, who leaned indifferently on a nearby chair. Cristian opened a folder, revealing a stack of

papers, and placed them before Hadley. “These documents were prepared specifically by Mr. Flynn. You never

signed off on these before, so let's take care of it now. Just sign wherever indicated-I'll manage everything else.”

Was this about her alimony?

Hadley immediately shook her head in refusal. “I can’t accept any money.”

Her rejection wasn’t a display of stubborn pride.

When she had been desperate years ago, the Flynn family had generously opened their doors.

They had genuinely cared for her without expecting anything in return.

Marriage to Eric had always felt like her way of repaying their kindness.

Accepting money now felt like betraying that principle.

Frustration flared in Eric’s voice as he shouted, “Just take it if I'm offering!”

Anticipating another rejection, he quickly explained, his voice coldly detached, “Consider this purely fromto

my ex-wife. It has nothing to do with my family or my grandmother.”

Caught off guard, Hadley hesitated, unsure how to counter such insistence.

“Get her to sign, already,” Eric muttered irritably.

He reached for his cigarettes but remembered smoking was prohibited inside the courthouse.

“I'm stepping out to smoke,” he said abruptly, walking away to find the designated area.

“Hadley,” Cristian gently said, offering her a pen. “Please, just sign these. Without your signature, you might not

finalize the divorce today.”

He had a point.

“Okay.” She agreed reluctantly, taking the pen and diligently signing each document presented.

“Here,” Cristian said, handing over an ink pad. “You'll need to stamp your fingerprint as well.”

“Alright.”

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Chapter 100 It’s All In The Past

Hadley complied carefully, finishing quickly and reaching for a tissue to clean her fingertion as tre to meet

the room.

Cristian reviewed their documents carefully. “All appears to be in order. Let's proceed.”

The divorce process for Hadley and Eric, devoid of battles over property or ontody of the children, coocutes

swiftly due to their amicable agreement.

The clerk handed out the divorce certificates. “These are for you both,” he said.

“Thank you,” they both responded.

Hadley’s hand shook subtly, betraying her emotions.

you both,

Eric found himself questioning if she was truly that happy to leave him. Watching her a tangle of emotions stirred

inside him.

He had waited years for this divorce, yet Hadley seemed to be the one who felt genuinely free.

“Well then...” Hadley slid her certificate into her bag, her lips curling into a faint smile. | guess I'll be on my

way.”

“Hadley,” Eric called after her, stopping her in her tracks.

“Yes?” Hadley, no longer intimidated, met his gaze with a bright, open expression. “Anything else?”

“I'm sorry.”

Hadley paused, visibly taken aback. Was Eric genuinely apologizing now?

Eric’s brow furrowed, betraying his discomfort, yet he managed a self-deprecating smile.

“Why that look? I'm aware | wasn’t the best husband.”

Hadley remained silent.

Forgiveness wasn’t owed for every apology.

With a mild smile, Hadley responded, “It’s irrelevant now. We've moved past all that.”

“Yes, it’s all history now...” Eric reflected silently.

He sighed deeply, offering a wry chuckle. “You might find this hard to believe...”

“What is it?” Hadley inquired, her expression one of confusion.

“Back when we just married,” Eric said, his gaze lingering on Hadley’s calm face, his tone rough with emotion. “I

genuinely tried to make our marriage work...”

Eric had been intimate with Hadley, despite his reservations, because he was trying.

He believed then that a sense of duty could sustain their marriage.

If only the tragedy with Linda’s miscarriage hadn't occurred...

“Really?”

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Chapter 109 It’s All In The Past

Hadley’s smile was tinged with skepticism. Those words might have held weight once, but now they felt hollow.

She gestured toward the exit. “May | go now?”

“Yes.” Eric agreed with a slight nod. “You're free to leave.”

“Farewell.”

Hadley waved once, turned, and began to walk away, her stride becoming brisker until she started running

As she sprinted, her breaths csharply.

At the doorway, Denver noticed her accelerated pace and hurried out of his car. “Hadley!”

“Denver!”

Hadley’s face lit up as she dashed towards him.

At that instant, she craved the company of someone who could share in her newfound happiness.

Denver extended his arms, concerned she might stumble. “Be careful.”

“I'm completely okay!”

A broad grin spread across Hadley’s face, showcasing her bright teeth.

“I'm just so, so happy!”

“Yes, | see that.” Denver gazed down at her, his smile wide in response. “It's clear as day.”

Even amid her smiles, tears started to shimmer in her eyes.

“Is this the joy that brings tears?” Hadley pondered aloud.

Overwhelmed, Hadley suddenly burst into tears, covering her face with her hands as her shoulders shook gently.

“Hadley?”

Taken aback, Denver stood frozen, uncertain how to comfort her.

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At this moment, Denver felt at a loss.

Fumbling through his pockets, he realized he was unprepared. “Just a second,” he said as he dashed to the car.

After retrieving a box of tissues, he offered them to Hadley. “Here, take these.”

“I don’t need them!” Hadley protested, tears streaming down her face. “I just need to cry this out.”

Respecting her wishes, Denver refrained from insisting.

Empathy filled him, though he hadn't experienced what Hadley was going through. She was closing a chapter on

a marriage devoid of love.

Denver surmised that her tears were a mix of relief and liberation.

“Just let it out.” He encouraged gently. “I'm here for you.”

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Chapter 109 It’s All in The Past

Meanwhile, Eric observed from a distance, sitting alone in his car

The scene seemed futile to him. With a detached look, he directed his driver. “Sebastian, it's tto leave.”

“Yes, Mr. Flynn.”

As they drove off, Eric caught a glimpse of Denver tenderly wiping away Hadley’s tears, treating her with

delicate care.

Days later at Lightning Dance Studio, after several dance rehearsals, Blanche finally outlined her plans for

Hadley,

“Alright, prepare and start practicing You'll be taking charge of Group D for the new performance, The Passage.”

Blanche delivered her instructions with a cool demeanor, but to Hadley, it felt as if lightning had struck,

electrifying her thoughts.

For a brief moment, Hadley was speechless, caught off-guard by the unexpected news.

“Do you have an issue with this?” Blanche’s brow furrowed, misinterpreting the silence.

“No, absolutely not!” Hadley quickly replied, her voice firm.

She was indeed eager for the chance.

“Ms. Nicolson.” Hadley expressed her concern openly. “I've only recently joined the troupe. Isn’t there a chance

others might view this as unfair?”

Blanche responded with a laugh, brushing off the concern.

“That's your challenge to address. Impress them so no one can question your role.”

“But...”

“But what?” Blanche inquired, her eyebrow arching in challenge. “Hadley, | don’t appreciate hesitation at all. Are

you just planning to stick to menial tasks indefinitely? | don’t need more assistants, you know.”