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

Chapter 161 Just A Fair

Trade

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On Wednesday evening, Hadley arrived at the Flynn residence.

Tonight was her only free night-starting Thursday, her schedule was packed with performances through the

weekend.

“Hadley, over here.”

Nyla uncorked a bottle of red wine, raising a glass in celebration of Hadley’s safe return from Blathe.

“What a relief! We're just glad you're back safe. | know God is watching over you!”

“Yeah, indeed.” Hadley nodded with a small smile.

Eric sighed inwardly. He was the one who had actually risked his life and saved her, yet no one seemed to

acknowledge it.

He placed a hand over Hadley’s glass, firm but gentle. “Let's skip the wine, Grandma-Hadley doesn’t drink.” He

hadn’t forgotten the chaos she caused the last tshe was drunk.

“A sip won't do any harm,” Nyla countered, arching a brow at him. She reached for the bottle and poured a

generous amount into Hadley’s glass. “Con! It’s a special occasion! Besides, we're home, so what's the

harm even if she gets a little tipsy? Don’t you think, Hadley?”

Hadley lifted her glass with a small, amused smile. “Mhm.”

Well, that was that-his interference had been pointless.

With a sigh, Eric let it go, shifting his focus to pouring the wine and making sure both women had plenty to eat.

That night, only the three of them sat around the dinner table.

Ernest was at the hospital for a follow-up, undergoing a full check-up that required an overnight stay. Linda had

gone with him.

By the end of the meal, Nyla was more than a little tipsy.

Concerned for her health, Eric didn’t hesitate to call her caregiver to escort her to her room.

When he turned back, his eyes landed on Hadley, still clutching her wine glass, sipping away like she had all the

tin the world.

Fantastic. She was drunk too.

“That's enough,” he said, reaching for the glass.

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Eric strode over and plucked the glass from her hand. “You're drunk, you know that? Grandma wants you to stay

the night.”

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Her room was always ready-cleaned daily-so there was nothing to prepare.

“Oh, okay.”

Her easy agreement threw him off. He'd expected resistance. As she pushed off the table, she swayed on her

feet.

Eric caught her arm before she tipped over, smirking. “Miss Pearson, are you sure you can still find your way?”

“Mm!” Hadley bobbed her head and pointed toward the front door. “That way.”

“Tsk.” He let out a low chuckle. “Brilliant. Con. I'll take you.”

“Oh.”

Hadley didn’t resist as he guided her upstairs.

The moment they stepped into her room, she slipped free from his grip and disappeared into the bathroom.

“Hadley?”

Eric lingered by the door, unsure if she was sick. He didn’t step in and just waited.

Minutes passed. Still nothing.

His chest tightened. He rapped his knuckles against the door. “Hadley, you good in there?”

Silence. Not even a shuffle from inside.

“Hadley!” Eric knocked harder, his pulse quickening. “If you don’t answer, I'm opening the door!”

Still nothing. His jaw tightened.

Without hesitation, he shoved the door open-only to find her sitting on the floor, slumped against the bathtub.

“Hadley?” He rushed to her side, kneeling. “What’s wrong? Do you feel sick?”

She lifted her head and met his gaze. Then, out of nowhere, she smiled.

But there was no warmth in it. Eric's stomach sank. His brows drew together.

“Where does it hurt?”

“Nowhere.” Hadley shook her head, that unreadable smile still in place. “I'm okay.”

Really?

Eric didn’t believe a word of it. That look-it was the sone she had the day she broke up with Denver. Was

she still thinking about him?

Let's get you up ”

He grabbed her arm, pulling her up. “The floor’s freezing.”

But before he could help her stand, she suddenly gripped his arm and whispered, “Eric, I've made up my mind

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-we should be together.”

Tscreeched to a halt.

If not for the steady rise and fall of his own breath-the hammering in his chest-Eric might've thought he

imagined it. “Say that again.”

Had he misheard?

No-he was sober. She was the one who'd been drinking.

So he hadn't imagined it.

“You didn’t hear me?” Hadley jutted out her lip, her tone almost teasing. “Then forget it...”

“Not a chance!”

Eric’s grip on her hand tightened. “Hadley, you can’t take it back. | know what | heard.”

Before she could react, he slid a hand behind her head and pulled her into his arms.

His voice dropped, rough with satisfaction. “You said it. That means we're together.”

Hadley didn’t move. She had said it, and he had heard it.

Was there still room for regret? Could she

regret it?

She knew this road led nowhere, yet she couldn’t turn back.

For Joy, she would have given up everything-even her life. So really, how unbearable could being with Eric be?

They each took what they wanted-it was that simple.

A fair trade.

Hadley’s fingers curled around his arm, her touch feather-light. “Mm, okay.”

Something inside Eric cracked wide open. His chest tightened, pulse thundering in his ears. With one arm

wrapped around her, he gently tilted her chin up with the other.

His gaze burned into hers.

“Then... can | kiss you?”

In that moment, nothing else existed-just her, just this. Just the thought of tasting her lips.

“Mm...” Hadley gave a small nod.

But just as Eric started to lean in, her eyelids fluttered, and then shut completely as she slumped against him.

“Hadley?”

He froze, staring down at her. Deep, even breaths. Out cold.

“Seriously...”

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She'd fallen asleep just like that?

Not that he could blher. Nyla never should've let her drink. With how low her tolerance was, it was a

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miracle she'd lasted this long.

Eric lifted her effortlessly, carrying her out of the bathroom and laying her gently on the bed.

He brushed a few strands of hair from her face, tucking the blanket snugly around her.

For a long moment, he just sat there, watching her, unwilling to leave. But eventually, he stood.

“Ill let it slide tonight,” he murmured. “We have all the tin the world.”

With that, he switched off the light and pulled the door shut behind him as he left.

In the darkness, Hadley’s eyes fluttered open. She lay still, staring at the ceiling, her breath unsteady. Silent

tears slipped down her cheeks.

By morning, Eric was already up-not that he had slept much. He needed to be sure last night hadn't just been a

dream.

Wouldn't it be possible that Hadley would wake up today, remember nothing, and deny everything?

She had been drunk, after all.

“Hadley?” Eric stood at her door, knocking lightly. “You awake? Mind if | cin?”

To his surprise, the door swung open almost instantly.

Hadley stood there, already dressed. “Need something?”

“Hadley?” He blinked, caught off guard. Without thinking, he grabbed her hand. “You're up already? Do you feel

alright? Any dizziness?”

He should've made sure she had something for the hangover last night, but she’d knocked out the moment her

head hit the pillow.

Hadley gave a small nod. “Mm. A little dizzy.”

Eric's frown deepened. “If you can’t handle alcohol, don’t drink so much. Even if it's just to keep Grandma

company, you don’t have to push yourself.”

“What's this? Talking aboutfirst thing in the morning?”

Nyla’s voice cut through the air.

She was usually the earliest riser, so finding the two of them up before her was surprising enough. But then...

Her gaze dropped to their hands-still clasped together. “This... you, you two?”

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