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

Chapter 135 Couldn't Let It

Go

Unlocking her phone, Hadley immediately looked at Denver's latest message.

“Hadley, I'm here managing everything at home. It’s fine if you're not ready.to talk, I'm not going anywhere and

I'll wait until you're ready.*

Closing her eyes briefly, Hadley was moved by Denver's commitment, yet it also filled her with sadness.

Why did he remain so hopeful about them?

She then navigated away from Denver's message. It was one she found herself unable to answer.

Ignoring his texts might eventually lead him to stop trying at all.

She felt that cutting off contact now would be the kindest thing to do.

Taking a deep sigh, she checked on the message from Eric.

“Hadley, | just Denver. Everything alright?”

Her brow creased with confusion as she read.

How did he see Denver? Wasn't he supposed to have dropped her off and just left? Could he have returned?

And for what reason would he return?

There was an additional message from Eric waiting for her.

“I found your hair tie in my car. | went back to return it.”

That explained the situation.

Feeling her wrist, Hadley noticed her hair tie was indeed missing.

She began typing a response.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a hair tie. Feel free to throw it away.”

Meanwhile, Eric sat in his car near the Mayfield Road, the maroon hair tie with small white beads in hand.

Puzzled by her response, he looked at the hair tie and muttered to himself, “She really doesn’t want it back?”

He grabbed his phone to text back.

“I'm nearby, so dropping it off won't be a bother.”

Hadley saw his message and responded quickly.

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“Please, it’s not necessary. Also, I'm not at my apartment right now.”

She wasn’t home? But didn’t he just drop her off?

4.

Eric's muscles tensed as a realization dawned on him-perhaps Hadley had encountered Denver as well. Could

she be trying to avoid him?

A fleeting smile crossed his face, a surprising sense of relief igniting within him.

“So, where might you be now?”

“Just at a friend's place,” she responded briefly, offering no further details.

Eric considered pressing for more information but quickly dismissed the idea, worrying it might irritate Hadley.

Knowing her location wouldn't change the current situation.

“Alright, got it.”

Eric placed his phone down, wound down the window, and leaned out slightly, her hair tie in hand.

He eyed the nearby trash can. With just a gentle flick, he could discard it.

Yet, after hesitating for a moment, he withdrew his hand, caressing the hair tie instead. In the end, he couldn't

let it go.

With a sigh, Eric started the car and drove away.

Upon reaching Evergrand Mall, he decided to make a stop.

Stepping out, Eric entered a boutique specializing in women’s fashion-accessories and all.

The sales associate recognized him immediately-Mr. Flynn? The big boss was here! She quickly called the

manager to attend to him.

“Mr. Flynn, welcome!”

The manager approached with a welcoming grin. “How may | assist you today?”

“Just in time,” Eric said, massaging his forehead. The vast array of women’s accessories was overwhelming.

He presented the hair tie, asking, “Do you carry anything similar to this?”

LETS S300”

The manager peered at the item closely. “We do have similar items, although none are an exact match.”

“I'd like to see those.”

“Certainly.”

She signaled to the sales associate, who hastened to fetch the selection.

A tray soon arrived, lined with various options. “Here are schoices that resemble the style, Mr. Flynn.”

“Thanks.”

Carefully evaluating each, Eric selected the one that most closely resembled the original.

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“I'll take this one.”

“Do you want this gift-wrapped?”

“There's no need.”

Eric thought about the implications of wrapping it. It would appear too formal, and Hadley was unlikely to accept

such a gesture. “Just hand it over as is.”

“Very well, Mr. Flynn, that'll be 1538 dollars, please sign here.”

The chosen hair tie was indeed similar to Hadley’s, but instead of plastic beads, it boasted the finest pearls,

justifying the steep price difference.

After signing the receipt, Eric collected the new hair tie and exited Evergrand Mall.

Upon his return to Flynn Mansion, Eric first checked on Nyla, and then proceeded to Ernest’s room.

At that fime, Ernest was settling into a shampoo chair in the bathroom, ready for a hair wash from Linda.

“Hey, Eric!”

“Hello, Ernest, Linda.”

Preparing herself, Linda was about to start when her phone interrupted. “I need to take this. Please, have a chat

with Ernest and keep him entertained. I'll return shortly.”

With that, she excused herself with her phone in hand.

“Alright.”

Eric found a chair, pulled it up, and sat comfortably, draping his arm over the back.

Eric would only let his mischievous side out when he was alone with his big brother.

With Linda momentarily gone, Eric dropped his voice to a playful whisper, asking, “Hey, Ernest, have you had

Quentin on the hunt for someone recently?”

It wasn’t that Eric had been snooping; however, he had overheard Phillips mentioning Quentin's search.

He hadn't pried for details, but he knew something was up.

Ernest's expression tightened, and a slight frown formed.

He seemed to struggle for words.

“What?”

Observing his brother's discomfort, Eric couldn't help but ask with a hint of mischief, “Are you by any chance

looking for a girl?”

At the suggestion, Ernest grew visibly unsettled, emitting a garbled murmur.

“Am | perhaps right about this?” With a knowing look and a playful lift of his eyebrow, Eric reassured him, saying,

“Calm down, Ernest. | know you're with Linda. I'm just joking. | won't say anything to her...”

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13:46

Regarding the mystery pe

Ernest might be searching for, Eric figured that it was not his place to press

further unless Ernest chose to share.

“What's this all about?”

Linda reappeared, having finished her phone call.

“We were just talking,” Eric responded with a smile, rising to his feet. “I'll let you two continue.”

As he turned to leave, something fell from his pocket...

Linda was about to call out to him when she noticed it was... a pearl hair tie?

Why would Eric be carrying a woman's accessory?

Linda’s brow creased as she lifted the hair tie, which appeared new.

Ernest, from behind her, let out a raspy noise.

“Ill be right there.”

Snapping out of her brief daze, Linda gathered her hair, using the hair tie to secure it.

“Can’t wait any longer? Let's start your hair wash.”

Eric returned to his room, only to realize the new hair tie he bought for Hadley was missing. What happened?

Where did it go?

He rummaged through his belongings and even checked his car, to no avail.

The possibility of leaving it in Ernest’s room crossed his mind.

He hesitated to intrude there now.

Resigned, Eric planned to purchase a replacement later.

By seven o'clock in the evening, Hadley was applying her makeup, gearing up for a performance.

“Hadley.” Elissa entered, gesturing towards the door. She whispered, “There's a very attractive man outside

waiting for you.”

Realizing who it must be, Hadley responded firmly, “Elissa, please tell him I’m not available to meet him and ask

him to leave.”

“Huh?”

Elissa was momentarily stunned, but then nodded. “Alright.”

She walked toward Denver, who was waiting at the door expectantly.

As Elissa approached, Denver's face fell, the disappointment evident. “She doesn’t want to see me, does she?”

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