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

Chapter 165 I'll Treat You

Right

“Whoa!”

Eric barely dodged her kick, missing a painful hit by inches. Moving fast, he caught Hadley’s ankle in his palm.

He let out a breathless chuckle. “Con, get up. Did you forget we chere for the sunrise?”

“Nope. Not happening.”

Hadley stayed put, lazily waving a hand without opening her eyes. “I don't feel like seeing it.”

Eric stared at her, baffled. Seriously?

If she skipped the sunrise, she'd never let him hear the end of it later.

He scooped Hadley up, blanket and all, and carried her onto the deck, settling her onto a lounge chair with

careful ease.

With all the movement, sleep was officially off the table.

She yawned, one after another, her eyes watering from the stretch.

“That tired, huh?” Eric sat beside her, tugging the blanket snug around her shoulders.

The sea breeze had a sharp bite, and he wasn’t about to let her freeze.

“Yeah.” She nodded, still not seeing the hype around waking up at the crack of dawn.

“Just wait a second.”

Eric got up and disappeared into the cabin.

When he returned, he held something out to her. “Here.”

“What is it?” Hadley took it, eyeing the object in her hands-a warm, steamed corn on the cob.

“Go on, eat.” Eric grinned. “I promise it won't make you gain weight.”

Then, he pressed a paper cup against her cheek. “And here’s shot black coffee-great for burning calories

and fighting puffiness.”

Hadley froze.

She stared at him like he was a stranger.

This side of him felt unfamiliar-almost unreal, like she'd stepped into a dream.

No.

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< Chapter 165 NM Treat You Right

Hadley gave a small shake of her head. Even in her dreams, he had never treated her like this.

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“What?”

Noticing her stare, Eric rubbed his face, looking a little self-conscious. “Do | have something on my face?

“No.” She shook her head, a quiet laugh slipping out. “I'm just... a little touched.”

“Touched?”

Eric caught on right away. He lowered his head, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear before resting

his forehead against hers.

“I was a jerk before. But from now on, I'll treat you right. Okay?”

His words hit deep.

Hadley blinked, dazed,

Then, out of nowhere, she shoved him back, eyes wide with excitement. “Look! The sun! It's coming up!”

At the horizon, where the sea kissed the sky, golden light stretched outward, painting the world in warmth. The

sun, bold and brilliant, began its slow ascent.

Just like that, Hadley was wide awake.

The sunlight danced in her eyes, catching on tiny flecks of gold

“It’s beautiful, right?”

Hadley stared at the sunrise, lost in its glow-while Eric only looked at her.

“It is.” She nodded, her focus unwavering And in that moment, she finally understood the quiet romance of

watching a sunrise.

“I knew you'd like it.”

Reality settled around her as she turned to the person beside her.

So this was what he was like when he let someone in.

He had planned everything so carefully-waking up early just to watch the sunrise.

It was something she had never experienced when she was his wife. But today, she finally did.

Hadley let out a quiet, self-mocking smile, biting into the warm corn before taking a sip of coffee.

After stepping off the yacht, Eric drove her back to the entrance of Mayfield Road. “Get srest when you get

home,” he said.

“Okay.”

She waved as his car disappeared down the street. But instead of heading inside, she pulled out her phone,

booked a ride, and made her way to the hospital.

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“Dr. Torres.”

She greeted Joy's new attending physician-Mathias’ friend, Colden Torres.

Reaching into her bag, Hadley pulled out a small vial and handed it to him. “Please, help me.”

Colden hesitated before taking it. “Alright. Leave it to me.”

Technically, running private tests like this wasn’t allowed. But with Mathias and Colleen pulling strings, he didn’t

have much of a choice.

“This is urgent-please get it toASAP,” Hadley urged, her voice steady but pleading.

“No need to stress.”

Colden gave her a firm nod. “I'll send it to the lab right away and have them fast-track the results. I'll update

you as soon as they're in.”

“Thank you so much, Dr. Torres,” Hadley said, her gratitude running deep.

Because of Colden’s help, she got the results that sevening-just after her performance.

Her phone buzzed with a message from him, an electronic report attached. The medical jargon blurred together,

but Colden had already summed it up in simple terms-it wasn’t a match.

Hadley’s breath hitched. She shut her eyes, gripping her phone so tightly her fingers ached.

She had partly expected this.

She and Eric were Joy's parents-the ones who had given her life once. But now, when she needed them most,

they couldn’t do it again.

Hadley pressed her eyes shut, forcing herself to breathe until the ache in her chest dulled and the burn of

unshed tears faded. Only when she was sure she had a grip on herself did she finally open them, her gaze sharp

and unwavering.

There was only one choice left.

She had seen this coming-had prepared for it. It was a risk, a dangerous bet, but she was ready to play her hand.

She couldn't afford to waste time.

At dawn, she made her way to the clinic Colleen had recommended.

The doctor barely looked at her, already assuming why she was there.

“How much do you want this time?”

“No, that’s not why | came...”

Hadley shook her head, sitting straighter, tension tightening every inch of her body.

She drew in a deep breath. “Dr. Perkins, I'm here for the treatment.”

The doctor stilled, finally looking up. “You've made up your mind?”

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“Yes.”

Chapter 165 I'll Treat You Right

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Hadley nodded, her grip tightening in her lap.

There was no other way.

Neither she nor Eric was a match for Joy. If she wanted to save her, she had to conceive-fast.

Before, she had consider relying on medication to get herself into Duran’s bed. But this time, that wasn’t an

option.

It could affect the baby.

No matter her reasons for being with Eric-no matter how calculated this choice was-the child would be innocent

in all of it.

If it cinto this world, she would love it. Completely.

Which meant she had to be ready, mind and heart.

“Dr. Perkins, please-I need your help.”

“Alright.”

Dr. Perkins nodded in approval. “I'm glad you've made this decision. I'll make the arrangements.”

“Thank you so much.”

“The earliest we can start is this afternoon. Cin for your first session.”

“Alright.”

That afternoon, Hadley returned as scheduled.

The therapy room was quiet, the curtains drawn to shut out the outside world. As she lay back, Dr. Perkins

‘ voice guided her-steady, calm, pulling her toward a place of ease.

“Good.”

Thirty minutes later, Dr. Perkins lit an incense stick, its delicate smoke curling into the air. “Close your eyes and

relax.”

Hadley obeyed, letting her eyelids drift shut. Then-

“Ah!”

She jolted awake, drenched in sweat, chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. Her eyes darted around the room

before locking onto Dr. Perkins.

He sat calmly across from her, a gentle smile on his face. “Awake? How do you feel?”

Hadley shivered, an icy sensation crawling beneath her skin. Her gaze was distant, unfocused.

Dr. Perkins suddenly stood, closing the space between them. His voice was steady, reassuring. “Relax. You're

safe here. No one will hurt you.”

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Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't AffordNow