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

Chapter 156 Her Hopes

Were Shattered Into Pieces

Hadley, still frail and powerless to push back, merely let her eyelids drift shut, opting to tune Eric out entirely.

Was this her way of quietly digging in her heels?

Eric let out a wry, self-mocking smile. “Do you despise me?” he asked softly.

Of course, Hadley didn’t dignify that with a response, and he hadn't truly expected her to.

“You're well aware, more than anyone, that the mess we're in today traces back to Wilma. I'm merely playing the

hand I've been dealt. You and Denver would part ways one way or another tonight-Wilma would make sure of it.

And trust me, had it not been for me, you would have been in a far worse state than you are now.” Hadley kept

her eyes squeezed shut, her lashes trembling ever so slightly, her fists balled up tightly as she remained mute.

A soft sigh escaped Eric's lips. “Just... get srest.”

Gazing at Hadley’s defiant expression, he thought to himself, “What's the use? There was no sense in debating

this further. Why tangle with a woman whose heart was still mending?”

When Hadley stirred from her slumber, the room was empty.

When had Eric slipped away? She couldn't quite pinpoint it. The drug had lulled her into a deep calm, and sleep

had claimed her soon after.

Testing her limbs, she felt a renewed vigor.

With a stretch of her arms, she propped herself up and noticed her clothes neatly folded by the bedside.

Eric hadn't taken liberties while she was unconscious. Not that she pegged him as a saint-far from it.

He simply wasn’t interested-that much she knew all too well.

Even during their marriage, he had shown no desire to touch her.

Rising to her feet and slipping into her clothes, her phone suddenly buzzed to life.

It was Blanche on the line.

“Hello, Ms. Nicolson.”

In the recent calamity, Blanche had been among the worst injured. Over the phone, she asked Hadley to cto

the hospital.

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< Chapter 156 Her Hopes Were Shattered Into Pieces

“Of course, Ms. Nicolson.”

After hanging up, Hadley hastened to the hospital.

She would have gone regardless of Blanche’s request.

Many of her troupe colleagues had been hurt, and she wanted to see if she could lend a hand in any way.

“Ms. Nicolson.”

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Hadley entered Blanche’s private room at the hospital.

“Hadley, cin-take a seat.”

Besides Blanche, the room held several other troupe members-dancers and department heads among them.

Blanche motioned for everyone to settle down. “Now that we're all gathered, let's keep this short and cut to the

chase.”

The heart of the discussion was the recent mishap.

Numerous injuries had been sustained, including severe ones to the lead dancers of two groups, which might

force a halt to the tour.

Blanche let out a heavy sigh. “It’s out of our hands. Accidents occur, and sometimes we're at the mercy of fate.”

Her plan was to oversee initial treatments at the hospital before arranging a chartered flight back to Srixby. Once

there, all the following performances would need to be rescheduled.

They hashed out the details, divvying up responsibilities to ensure everything was in order.

Blanche gave a final reminder. “Everyone, see to your tasks diligently. While we're still in Blathe, keep the lines

of communication tight if anything crops up.”

“Yes, Ms. Nicolson.”

“Understood, Ms. Nicolson.”

Hadley slipped her phone from her pocket and discreetly jotted down her assigned duties. With the lead dancers

sidelined by their injuries, she would not only perform in her own group but also step into the starring roles for

two additional productions.

Beyond the stage, a mountain of logistical tasks awaited her attention. The days ahead promised to be a

whirlwind of activity.

Stepping out of the hospital room, Hadley drew in a deep breath to steady herself. She intended to check on

Elissa next when her phone buzzed to life. It was Mathias calling.

Likely reaching out to confirm the date of Joy's surgery, she mused.

Her tone brightened as she answered. “Dr. Williams?”

“Ms. Pearson.” cthe reply. “Can you cto the hospital?”

“I'm already here at the hospital!” Hadley let out a soft laugh. “Just givea second!”

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Chapter 156 Her Hopes Were Shattered Into Pieces

After ending the call, she quickened her steps toward Joy's ward.

From down the corridor, she caught sight of Mathias. “Dr. Williams!” she called out.

But the look on Mathias’ face stopped her short. It wasn’t one of reassurance.

Slowing her stride, her smile dimmed. “Apologies-I got carried away. I'll keep my voice down.”

“It’s okay,” Mathias replied, though his brow furrowed as he motioned toward his office. “Let's speak privately.”

“Of course.”

At that moment, she hadn’t had the faintest inkling of the heartbreak awaiting her.

“Dr. Williams...”

After hearing Mathias’ words, Hadley’s face drained of color. She managed a frail smile, clinging to disbelief.

“You're pulling my leg, aren’t you? This can’t be happening.”

Mathias shook his head, his expression somber. “Since Joy was admitted over six months ago, I've held onto the

shope as you-that she would pull through.”

A sharp pang gripped Hadley’s chest, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Her voice quivered as she spoke.

“But... Isn't there anything we can do?”

Mathias let out a heavy sigh, his face etched with both helplessness and remorse. “The donor withdrew at the

eleventh hour. It was beyond our control.”

He raked a hand through his hair, frustration evident. “I should've prepared you for this possibility. It's not the

first tsuch things have happened.”

And just like that, Hadley’s hopes were shattered into pieces.

“Dr. Williams!”

Hadley squeezed her eyes shut for a brief moment before blurting out, “Who was the donor? Can you tell me? |

need to speak with them-I'll plead if | have to.”

“No!” Mathias interjected swiftly, halting her spiraling thoughts. “You need to take a step back! That's against

the law!”

Hadley froze in place, her eyes growing even redder as the weight of his words sank in.

What now? What would becof Joy?

“Ms. Pearson,” Mathias said gently, understanding the depths of a mother’s anguish. “Don’t let this break you.

Other chances will come... Joy’s condition isn’t critical just yet...”

Joy was fine now, but what about tomorrow?

Without a surgery to cure her, Joy would be tethered to endless hospital visits and treatments. At best, they

could keep her stable-for now.

But what if that fragile thread of hope unraveled entirely?

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Hadley drew in a steadying breath, pressing her palms firmly against the table as she rose to her feet.

“Thank you, Dr. Williams. I'll... go see Joy now.”

“Ms. Pearson...”

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“I'm alright.”

Hadley turned away, her teeth sinking into her lower lip to keep the flood of emotions at bay.

Pausing at the ward door, she inhaled deeply, willing the tears to retreat. She couldn't let even a flicker of her

turmoil show in front of Joy.

With a gentle push, she opened the door to the ward, the silence inside wrapping around her like a heavy cloak.

The bed lay empty. Joy was nowhere to be seen.

The the

Down in the first-floor lobby, Eric had just bid farewell to a business partner who had cto visit him and was

making his way back to his ward. Out of the corner of his eye, a small, familiar figure caught his attention.

Huh?

He doubled back for a closer look.

Narrowing his eyes, he recognized the little girl he had met before, standing beside a vending machine.

Eric strolled over and knelt down to her level. “Joy?”

“Hmm?”

Joy turned, her puzzled expression melting into a bright smile as she recognized Eric.

“It's you!”

“Indeed,” Eric said warmly, ruffling her hair gently. “What are you doing here, little one? It's past bedtime. Where

is your nurse?”

Instead of answering, the girl pointed at the vending machine. “Strawberry milk.”

What did she mean by that? Eric arched a brow. Was she asking him to buy it for her?

With such an endearing child before him, he couldn't possibly play the miser. Fishing out his wallet, he dropped a

few coins into the slot and pressed the button.

“There you go-strawberry milk.”

“Wow!”

Joy clapped her tiny hands in delight. “Thank you! You're so kind.”

In a burst of affection, she flung herself into Eric’s arms, wrapping her little arms around his neck.

Then, in a hushed whisper against his ear, she asked, “Do you know what it means to die?”

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