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

You HadOnce, Never Again 11

Chapter 115 She's In Trouble

Hadley spent the entire day practicing in the dance studio.

In just two days, she would have to prove her progress to Blanche. If she, passed, the troupe would officially

begin rehearsals.

By the tthe clock hit a quarter past six, she changed into her own clothes, grabbed her bag, and hurried

out,

“Hadley, want to grab dinner with us tonight?” A few colleagues in the dressing room called out.

“Wish | could, but | have to be somewhere.” She shot a quick glance at the time.

There was a scene she had to film that evening, and being late wasn’t an option.

“Have fun, everyone. See you all tomorrow!”

With that, she dashed out of the room.

“Oh, Hadley...”

“What's she always so busy with? She never shows up to any of our gatherings.”

One of the girls, Alita Reed, scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain.

“She just showed up out of nowhere. Ms. Nicolson handpicked her because of her so-called talent. Why would

she waste twith us?”

The moment Hadley’s special recruitment cup, the room buzzed with conversation.

“I heard she used to dance with Red. People say she’s actually really good.”

“Yeah, | watched her during practice. She's got serious talent.”

Alita let out a sharp scoff.

“Talent? You talk like the rest of us don’t know how to dance.”

If they weren't skilled, they wouldn't be here at all. Yet, despite their hard work, they were still stuck in minor

roles. Meanwhile, Hadley had barely set foot in the troupe and was already leading a performance.

Not everyone was happy about it.

And no one resented the situation more than Alita.

She had been dancing under Blanche’s instruction since childhood, personally chosen to train with Lightning.

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Chapter 115 She's in Trouble

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Before Hadley arrived, she had been the most promising young dancer.

Tickets to their shows were highly sought after, so Blanche opened an additional cast group Most people

assumed Alita would get the lead.

Then Hadley showed up out of nowhere.

To Alita, Hadley had stolen the lead role right out from under her.

“What makes her so special?” Alita muttered under her breath, her words laced with bitterness “She probably

just has someone powerful backing her up.”

Rumors had already been swirling around. People whispered that Hadley hadn't earned her spot through talent

alone. Many saw her show up with a man the day she got recruited.

Everyone knew the man behind her was someone influential.

“She's probably just using connections.”

“Shut it!” A coworker quickly clamped a hand over Alita’s mouth. “You can’t say things like that. Ms. Nicolson

doesn’t tolerate in-house .”

“Get off me!”

Alita shoved her colleague away, but she knew better than to push her luck.

If Blanche caught wind of her spreading rumors, she'd be thrown out without a second thought.

Still, Alita wasn’t about to let Hadley keep overshadowing her.

Alita kept a close watch.

So when Hadley rushed off again one evening, Alita quietly trailed behind, following her through multiple bus

rides and train transfers.

“Isn't she supposed to have srich guy backing her? Why is she traveling like this?” Alita muttered.

But the moment they stepped off the subway, her complaints faded.

Excitement surged through her veins.

Hadley had arrived at a movie studio. What was she doing here?

Pulling a mask over her face and tugging her cap lower, Alita kept her distance and continued following.

Then, right before her eyes, Hadley entered a filming set.

Alita waited patiently. Minutes later, Hadley stepped back out, now dressed in full costume.

Without hesitation, Alita pulled out her phone, turned on the camera, and snapped several photos.

A slow smirk formed on her lips. “Hadley, this is the end of the line for you.”

Slipping her phone back into her pocket, she turned and walked away.

At the filming set, Hadley spotted Elvin and approached him. “Mr. Webster, | need to talk to you about

something.”

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Chapter 118 She's in Trouble

He gave her a nod. “Go ahead. What's on your mind?”

She took a breath “Here's the thing” She explained how she had joined a proper dancing studio. “I'm struggling

to balance everything Filming might get difficult formoving forward.”

Elvin’s expression darkened slightly. “Hadley, when you joined the crew, | went out of my way to vouch for you

with the director.”

“I know,” she said, guilt creeping into her voice. “And | really appreciate everything you've done.”

The last thing she wanted was to seem ungrateful, but Lightning Stuhad strict rules. Dancers weren't

allowed to take on outside work.

And in her case, she was the lead.

The lead dancer wasn't just another performer. She was the face of the troupe, the equivalent of a headlining

star in the entertainment industry.

Hadley had thought about walking away from the film crew entirely. But she had signed a contract. Leaving now

would mean paying a penalty.

Besides, after everything Elvin had done for her, she couldn't just disappear without a second thought.

Instead, she suggested cutting down her screen time, which was possible since she was merely a stand-in.

“Mr. Webster, this is on me. I'm truly sorry.”

Elvin studied her for a moment before letting out a sigh. “Alright, I'll see what | can do. But you'll still have to be

in a few crucial scenes.”

That part wasn’t up for debate.

“You've already been paid well for this, and Adonis is serious about maintaining quality. In this industry, it’s

always smart to leave doors open. Who knows what opportunities might cup in the future? If we get the

chance to work together again, it’s best to keep things smooth. No need to burn any bridges.”

“| get it.” Hadley nodded, grateful for his understanding. “I'll do as you suggest.”

She was genuinely grateful that Elvin wasn’t upset with her. Instead of making things difficult, he was willing to

compromise.

Maybe her luck wasn’t as bad as she thought.

“Thanks, Mr. Webster.”

“You're welcome.” Elvin gave a casual wave. “Now go get ready.”

“Got it.”

That night, Hadley didn’t step off the set until nearly midnight.

By the tHadley made it back to her apartment, exhaustion weighed her down. The moment her head hit the

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pillow, she was out.

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< Chapter 115 She's In Trouble

The next morning, Hadley stepped into the dance studio, ready to begin the day.

She had just changed into her practice clothes and was about to step into the rehearsal room when someone

called her name.

“Hadley!”

A colleague stood by the door. “Ms. Nicolson wants to see you in her office.”

“Got it! Thanks!”

She quickly locked her locker and hurried off.

When she reached Blanche’s office, she knocked lightly before stepping inside. “Ms. Nicolson, you asked for

me?”

Blanche sat on the sofa, her expression unreadable.

A cold wave of unease washed over Hadley. Blanche was always strict, but there was something different this

time. There was a sharp glint in her eyes. anger, restrained but unmistakable.

“Ms. Nicolson...” Hadley swallowed, her voice hesitant. “Did | do something wrong?”

Blanche arched an eyebrow.

A cold sneer crossed her lips as she set her phone down on the coffee table. “Take a look. See for yourself. Is this

you?”

“Okay.”

Hadley hesitated before reaching for the phone.

The screen displayed a photo of her in costfrom last night's film shoot.

Her stomach twisted. “Ms. Nicolson, I...”

“Is this you?” Blanche’s eyes locked onto her, cold and unyielding.

Hadley’s pulse thundered in her ears. A cold numbness spread through her limbs. There was no escaping it. The

proof was right in front of them.

She clenched her jaw and nodded. “Yes. It’s me.”

“Wow.”

Blanche let out a short, scornful laugh.

“Unbelievable.” Her voice dripped with disappointment. “Hadley, you broke the rule!”

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