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

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

Chapter 216 She Didn't Need His Love

The obstetrician spoke gently but gravely, her tone heavy with sympathy. “Mrs. Flynn... I'm so sorry...”

The words echoed painfully, shattering Hadley from within. A chill raced through her veins, freezing every nerve.

The world blurred, and her breath caught sharply.

Beyond the curtain, Eric felt the sicy dread seize his heart.

He didn’t need to hear more-he knew what had happened. Their child, the one he’d barely begun to grasp the

existence of, was gone before he’d even truly known them.

He ignored hospital protocol, yanking the curtain aside and rushing desperately to Hadley’s bedside.

“Mr. Flynn, you can’t go inside!” A nurse called urgently, stepping forward to stop him.

But Eric brushed past her, desperate to reach Hadley’s side. “Move aside!”

Rules be damned-nothing would keep him away from Hadley now.

“Hadley!”

Eric rushed frantically to her bedside, pulling her into his embrace, as though sheer strength alone could shield

her from the devastation. He glared furiously at the medical team, his voice a raw, anguished accusation. “Why

aren't you doing anything? First, you let our child slip away-and now you're standing idle while my wife suffers?”

His arms tightened instinctively around Hadley’s trembling frame.

Yet just as suddenly, his anger faded, replaced by a fragile tenderness as he turned to Hadley. “It’s alright,” he

murmured softly into her hair, voice breaking slightly. “We're young. We'll have another chance... | promise, we'll

try again...”

Though he attempted

eassurance, Eric's eyes betrayed his sorrow, reddening with tears he refused to let fall.

Hadley remained quiet, dazed in his arms.

Was he truly... grieving their child?

“Ugh...”

Just then, another sharp wave of pain seized her, wrenching a cry from her lips.

Eric snapped again, desperation bleeding into his anger, “Are you deaf? Do something, damn it! Don’t just stand

there!”

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Chapter 216 She Didn't Need His Love

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The staff exchanged hesitant glances, tension heavy in the silence, until all eyes settled anxiously on the

obstetrician.

The obstetrician cleared her throat gently, stepping forward cautiously. “Mr. Flynn, please understand. Your wife-

she didn’t lose the child. There was never a miscarriage. Mrs. Flynn... she’s not pregnant.”

Eric’s furious expression froze instantly, confusion sweeping in to replace his rage. “Wait... What did you say?”

Eric stood frozen, stunned into silence. He blinked blankly, shifting his gaze slowly between the obstetrician and

Hadley.

But Hadley’s reaction was far more visceral. She shot upright, neck stiffening in shock. “That's impossible!”

How could this be?

Her period had never come, and she'd even taken a test. Had the results lied to her?

“Hadley,” Eric murmured gently, immediately moving to support her.

He allowed her to lean heavily against him before addressing the doctor again, voice steady but edged with

quiet intensity. “Are you absolutely certain? My wife wouldn't have said something like this without being sure.”

The obstetrician, perspiration beading subtly on her forehead, maintained her professional calm despite the

tension.

False pregnancies were rare but not unheard of.

She turned her attention gently to Hadley. “Mrs. Flynn, how exactly did you confirm your pregnancy?”

Hadley recounted everything honestly, her heart sinking further with every word. “Could the test have been

faulty?”

“It's unlikely,” the doctor explained cautiously, “but certainly not impossible. There's also another possibility-

your body might have reacted misleadingly due to stimulants like ovulation-inducing medications...”

Hadley’s heart jolted painfully at the doctor's words, her grip tightening involuntarily on the bed sheets.

She had indeed taken such medication, eager to conceive as quickly as possible.

Could that eagerness have led to this cruel deception?

The doctor gently continued, “For absolute certainty, it's always best to confirm pregnancy through blood tests

at the hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Flynn, please consider doing so next time.”

Hadley closed her eyes, exhaustion overwhelming her as she sank weakly into Eric's supportive embrace.

The revelation was devastating, yet at least now Eric’s anxious heart could find peace.

Eric looked tenderly down at Hadley, noticing her quiet suffering. His voice softened, concern clear as he gently

asked, “Your shoulder-it still hurts, doesn’t it? Should | call an orthopedic specialist?”

“Yes,” Hadley whispered faintly, nodding as she allowed herself to lean more fully against him.

The obstetrician quietly exited, replaced moments later by an orthopedic specialist who promptly assessed

Hadley’s injury.

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After a brief but careful examination, he confirmed her shoulder was indeed dislocated. Skillfully, he reset it.

After securing her shoulder with a firm yet careful bandage, the doctor offered a reassuring nod and gently.

instructed them on follow-up care, “It’s nothing serious. Just avoid any strenuous activity for the next week and

maintain a balanced diet.”

With that, the medical team finalized their prescriptions, carefully explaining the dosage and timing before

declaring her fit for discharge.

While Eric's subordinate handled the paperwork, Eric himself focused entirely on Hadley, carrying her out of the

hospital and straight to the car.

She kept her eyes shut the entire time. The weight of the misunderstanding pressed heavily on her, making it

impossible to look at him.

She had been so certain-so prepared for an inevitable conclusion. The baby, she had thought, would be the end

of their entanglement. A clean break.

Even though she had chosen to return to him for Elissa’s sake, this situation now felt entirely different-far more

complicated, far more uncertain.

Now, without the pregnancy, their connection remained open-ended. Unresolved.

And she wasn’t ready for that-not physically, not mentally.

Eric, however, mistook her silence for awkwardness. Reaching out, he brushed his fingers gently against her

cheek, his touch warm, grounding. “Hadley, do you know something?” His voice was softer than she expected,

almost... pleased. “I don’t think I've ever been this happy.”

Hadley’s eyes fluttered open, confusion flickering in them.

Happy?

For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard. What could he possibly be happy about?

Yet as she met his gaze, she saw it-joy, pure and unguarded, lighting up his features. He wasn’t lying.

But why?

Eric reached for a stray lock of her hair, tucking it gently behind her ear before his fingers lingered, tracing down

to her jaw. His expression was unreadable, yet undeniably warm.

“Even if the pregnancy wasn’t real,” he murmured, voice laced with something deep, something almost tender.

“Your intention was.” He held her gaze, unwavering. “You wanted to have my child, didn’t you?”

Hadley parted her lips as if to speak, but no words came.

Of course, he didn’t need her to say it aloud. The truth was already there, plain and undeniable.

Without hesitation, Eric leaned in, wrapping her in his arms. “Hadley,” he whispered, his voice thick with

emotion. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Pregnancy wasn't just a fleeting decision; it was a monumental journey, a sacrifice.

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The toll on a woman's body was immense-not just the strain of carrying a child for months, but the risks, the

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complications, the sheer ordeal of childbirth.

And even after that, there were the lasting changes, the struggles with recovery, postpartum depression, and

everything else that cwith it.

His lips brushed against her ear as he murmured, “I can’t even begin to imagine the weight of what you were

prepared to endure-for me, for us.”.

Even if the pregnancy itself had turned out to be a misunderstanding, her willingness, her intention, had been

real.

Turning slightly, he pressed a slow, lingering kiss to her cheek. “Hadley,” he whispered, his voice laced with quiet

resolve. “Thank you. | swear to you-I'll treat you well. | won't let you down.”

Hadley remained in his arms, her lips parting slightly, but still no words came. She didn’t know what to say.

Compared to the shock of the false pregnancy, Eric's words in this moment struck Hadley just as deeply- perhaps

even more so.

Was he truly speaking from the heart?

She didn’t care whether he would eventually let her down; she had long since outgrown the illusion of love

conquering all.

What mattered now was something far more significant-had he truly accepted the possibility of a child between

them?

She didn’t need his love. She only needed him to love their child.

But could she trust him with that?

“Excuse me, Mr. Flynn? Here are the prescriptions.” Eric's subordinate returned, carrying the prescribed

medication.

Without missing a beat, Eric took the medicine and turned back to Hadley. His voice was firm yet gentle. “Please,

cback to Silver Villas with me. Your shoulder needs proper care.”

Hadley hesitated, but he pressed on. “Besides, you can’t expect to get proper care in a small place with

someone who has a child. What if they accidentally bump into you?”

What choice did she have?

Life had a cruel sense of humor, weaving their fates together again and again, ensuring she remained tangled

with this man, no matter how much she tried to escape.

“Okay.” With a quiet sigh of resignation, Hadley gave a small nod.

That night. In a dimly lit study, Quentin stepped forward, his expression carefully composed as he delivered his

report to Ernest. “Mr. Flynn, good news.”

He paused for effect before adding, “The child has been found.”