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

Chapter 167 Why Are You

Here

Eric frowned. Hadley had been in the restroom too long. A gnawing unease settled in his chest, pushing him to

check on her.

Through the door, her voice was sharp, accusing him of something inappropriate with Linda. Then-without

hesitation-she tossed the hair tie he'd given her straight into the trash.

He stood there, waiting, half-expecting her to say something. To acknowledge him.

But Hadley didn’t even spare him a glance. She stepped past him like nothing had happened.

As she moved past, he caught her wrist.

His voice was low, edged with tension. “Pick it up.”

“What?” Hadley let out a quiet laugh. “Why would | pick up something I threw away? It is disgusting.”

“Pick it up!” Eric's voice cut through the air, sharper this time, his gaze locking onto hers with unyielding

intensity. “I said, pick it up.”

“Ouch!”

Hadley flinched as his grip tightened around her wrist. She shot him a glare, yanking against his hold. “I won't!

You can’t make me!”

Her eyes burned-fierce, unwavering.

“Trash belongs where it belongs-in the trash!”

Trash?

Eric's jaw tightened. Had she really just called the hair tie he gave her trash?

His free hand curled into fist at his side, frustration simmering beneath his skin. “That was a gift from me!”

“Ha.”

Hadley let out a sharp laugh, her sneer cutting. “You think it’s appropriate to give us both the sgift? Does

Ernest know? That you gave his wife andthe exact sthing?”

She pointed at the trash can, mockery laced in every word. “I tossed it for your sake. Wouldn't want Ernest

catching on to your shady intentions and ruining his recovery, now would we?”

Eric's fingers tightened around her wrist. Hard.

Hadley sucked in a sharp breath, her wince barely concealed. It felt like he was moments away from crushing

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the bone.

“Shady intentions?”

His eyes burned-an unsettling mix of fury and something even colder. “Is that what you think of me?”

“Am | wrong?” Her voice was steady, deliberate. “It's not about what I think. If you don’t want Ernest to lose it,

you should keep your dirty little secrets buried.”

“Hadley!” Linda couldn't hold back any longer. She stormed forward, her voice sharp. “Shut up!” Without

hesitation, she raised a hand and slapped Hadley across the face.

“I won't let you talk about him like that!”

Hadley froze, the sharp sting still burning on her cheek. But the shock didn’t last long. Her instincts took over -

her hand shot up, striking Linda just as hard..

Linda staggered back, clutching her cheek in shock. Her voice wavered with disbelief. “You actually hit me?”

“Humph!” Hadley scoffed, eyes cold. “Oh, so it's fine when you hit me, but | can’t return the favor? Doesn't work

that way.”

“I'm not letting this slide!”

Humiliated and seething, Linda

Before she could land a blounged at Hadley. “Ah!”

scalp might rip clean off.

Hadley’s fingers tangled into her hair-yanking hard enough that it felt like her

“Ah! It hurts! Let go!” Linda shrieked, tears brimming in her eyes.

“Hadley!” Eric rushed forward, grabbing Hadley’s wrist. “Let go! Now!”

Nyla and Ernest were still waiting!

But Hadley didn’t let go. Didn't even flinch.

Eric had no choice but to tighten his grip, prying Hadley’s fingers from Linda's hair.

She hesitated for a second, and then let out a low, bitter laugh. “You two really know how to put on a show.”

“Hadley!”

“What?”

Eric's jaw tightened, his usually controlled expression clouded with frustration. His eyes burned with something

unreadable-something dangerously close to fury.

“You actually think I'm that contemptible?”

“Absolutely.” Hadley didn’t even blink, her laughter cutting like a blade. “What's wrong? The truth too much for

you? Or are you just too much of a coward to face it, Mr. Flynn?”

“Hadley!”

Eric's voice dropped, low and deliberate. He gripped her chin, tilting her face up until their eyes locked. His gaze

was unreadable, but the weight behind it pressed into her like a silent accusation.

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“I had no idea you sawthis way. If that’s how you feel, why did you even say yes when | asked you to be my

girlfriend?”

Then, just as abruptly, he let go and turned away. Without sparing Linda a glance, he strode off.

“Eric, wait!” Linda scrambled after him, fingers fumbling to fix her disheveled hair.

Hadley stood frozen, the moment replaying in her mind.

Then, with a sharp exhale, she knocked her forehead with her palm.

She had acted purely on impulse.

What was she thinking? How could she have let the truth slip so easily?

Now that the illusion was shattered, how was she supposed to keep pretending with Eric?

For the next two days, Eric didn’t call or text Hadley. The usual flowers he sent to the studio? They stopped

coming too.

Hadley couldn't shake the question nagging at the back of her mind-was this it? Was their arrangement over?

She didn’t love him. That much was clear. But she needed him. Joy needed him.

She couldn't afford to let this fall apart.

If Eric wasn’t going to cto her, then she’d just have to make the first move.

Hadley regretted it more than she wanted to admit. Sfights just weren't worth it. But that day, frustration

had won. She hadn’t been able to hold back.

After a long pause, she opened Whatand typed, “Are you busy?”

No response. Not that she expected one.

That night, her performance was the first on stage, wrapping up early.

By the tshe stepped out of the studio, it wasn’t even eight.

She checked her phone-still nothing from Eric.

She drew in a steady breath, gripped her phone, and pressed dial.

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The ringtone dragged on, stretching each second unbearably.

“Hello?”

At last, he answered.

His tone was slow, edged with impatience. “What do you want?”

“Eric.” Hadley swallowed, choosing her words carefully. “Are you free? | need to see you.”

A short laugh. “You need to meet up? What for?” There was a teasing lilt to his voice, cool and detached.

“Whatever it is, just say it now.”

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Hadley hesitated. Truthfully, she had no real excuse-no concrete reason to see him.

Still, she softened her tone. “Can we just meet? Sthings are easier to say in person.”

Silence. Then, finally-

“Let’s talk about it later. I'm out right now.”

“Then I'll wait for you,” she offered. “Are you heading back to Silver Villas tonight? | can meet you there.”

Another pause. Longer this time.

“Do what you want,” he said flatly. “I don’t know when I'll be back.”

The line went dead.

Hadley stared at her phone, frustration tightening in her chest. Now what? She had no choice but to wait. If she

wanted this to work, she had to be patient.

Slipping her phone into her pocket, she headed to Silver Villas.

When she pressed her fingertip to the sensor, the door clicked open. Her fingerprint still worked?

Had he forgotten to remove it? Or had he just never bothered?

Pushing the thought aside, she stepped inside.

At one in the morning, Eric finally returned to Silver Villas.

Hadley, resting against the sofa, stirred at the sound of the door. She was on her feet in an instant, hurrying

over, her steps light and quick.

Her voice was soft. “You're back?”

Eric kicked off his shoes and strode into the living room. The way she looked at him-warm, expectant-made

something in his chest tighten.

But his expression stayed unreadable, his gaze sharp and distant. “Why are you here? | thought you made it

clear | was beyond redemption.”

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