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

Chapter 237 Do You Have Even A Slight Liking For.......

Not long after Eric departed, the promised medication was delivered.

That sevening, Joy took it without any trouble.

While the medication worked effectively, it had an unexpected side effect: Joy was unusually lively.

By eight-thirty, when she would typically be asleep, Joy was wide awake, showing no signs of tiredness.

“Joy,” Hadley said, tapping gently on the bed. “Cand sleep next to Mommy.”

“Okay!” Joy climbed into bed, but her eyes remained bright, and she burst into giggles. “Mommy, hehe...”

“Still giggling?” Hadley was perplexed and slightly amused. “It’s bedtnow!”

“Haha...”

Joy's laughter continued, and neither Hadley nor Melba could persuade her to calm down and sleep.

Just then, Melba’s phone broke the playful chaos with its ringtone; it was Eric on the line.

“Mr. Flynn,” Melba answered, noting the time.

“Hello.” Eric's voice cthrough, filled with concern. He was restless in his bed, thoughts of Joy preventing him

from finding sleep. “I had to check in. How's Joy doing?”

Melba looked at Joy, who was bursting with energy, and said into the phone, “She’s very energetic tonight and

refuses to sleep.”

Joy, always sharp, perked up at the sound of the conversation and quickly sat upright.

“Lettalk to him!” she demanded eagerly, reaching for the phone.

“Of course,” Melba said with a chuckle, handing the phone to the little girl.

“Hello!” Joy’s voice rang out cheerfully.

Hearing her vibrant tone, Eric instantly felt a wave of relief wash over him; the medicine had clearly taken effect.

He couldn’t help but smile warmly.

“Why are you still awake, Joy? It’s very late,” Eric gently, scolded.

“I'm watching the moon! It's so beautiful tonight,” Joy replied, filled with wonder.

“Really?” Eric responded, his curiosity piqued. He walked over to his own window and gazed out, looking for

the moon.

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< Chapter 237 Do You Have Even A Slight Liking For Me

“Joy, it's tfor the moon to rest too.” Eric tried to convince her gently.

But Joy replied, “That's not true! The moon is still up there in the sky. How can it sleep?”

Eric, feeling a bit cornered, replied playfully, “What if | could bring the moon down to tuck you in?”

“Can you really do that?” Joy's voice was full of disbelief.

“Yes, | can.” Eric assured her with sincerity. “Just give it a little time, and I'll arrange for the moon to join you.

“Alright!” Joy’s voice bubbled with excitement. “I'll wait for the moon then!”

Once the call ended, Joy turned to her mother with sparkling eyes. “Mommy, he’s going to bring the moon to

watch overas | sleep!”

Hadley nodded, hiding her skepticism. “I heard that, sweetie.”

Hadley exhaled deeply, her thoughts tangled as she considered Eric's intentions. Didn't he realize his

imaginative promise could cause Joy to beceven more agitated?

Joy, now captivated by the idea of the moon visiting her, showed no signs of sleepiness.

Left with little option, Hadley reached for a picture book, hoping to calm her daughter's excitement.

Joy listened to the story, her eyes darting to the door every so often.

Shortly, a gentle tapping cfrom the door. Standing there was the night nurse, with a person clad in a

delivery uniform right behind her.

“Melba, it looks like your delivery has arrived,” said the nurse with a grin.

“My delivery? But | didn’t order anything!” Stepping up swiftly, Melba peered towards Joy and then back at the

delivery guy, murmuring with a mix of hope and disbelief. “Has Mr. Flynn actually sent the moon?”

As it turned out, he had-in a manner of speaking,

The package contained a lamp. Modest in appearance when dormant, it transformed when activated, casting a

luminous moon across the entirety of Joy's bed.

“Wow! Haha...”

Joy's laughter filled the room, her eyes crinkling in delight as she tugged at Hadley. “Mommy, look! The moon!

He really sent it!”

The delivery person chimed in, “You can even change the moon's size with this touchscreen.”

“Mr. Flynn has really outdone himself,” Melba murmured to herself.

Once the package was delivered, the delivery person departed.

Settling comfortably in her mother’s arms, Joy grew calm. Hadley playfully pinched her nose, asking, “Settled

down now? The moon's here to keep you company, so no more mischief, okay?”

“Hehe, yes.”

Joy embraced her mother tightly, a look of utter contentment on her face.

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“Close your eyes now,” Hadley whispered as she kissed her daughter's forehead. “Sleep well, Joy. The moon will

keep you company tonight.”

Jay complied immediately, her eyelashes resting gently on her cheeks like delicate fans.

“Mommy” The little girl’s voice was soft and wistful. “If only... if only he could be my daddy.”

Hadley stopped cold, her eyes widening as she looked down at her daughter nestled in her arms.

Could joy really have developed such a fondness for Eric?

As Joy slipped into sleep, Hadley remained awake, the room silent around her, her thoughts swirling with a

profound sense of emptiness.

The following day, Hadley chose not to ask Eric to pick her up. He was busy with a dinner engagement, so she

made her way to Silver Villas on her own.

Colden informed her as she was leaving the hospital that Joy’s condition had stabilized. With another round of

treatment tomorrow, Joy was set for discharge.

Grateful for the medication Eric provided, Hadley knew it played a significant part in Joy's recovery.

She arrived back at Silver Villas earlier than usual and made a quick stop at the supermarket to pick up a few

items.

Upon entering the house, Eric was greeted by the scent of something sweet cooking.

He peeked into the kitchen and was surprised to find Hadley there.

He redirected his path straight to the kitchen.

There, at the island counter, Hadley was donning an apron, her long hair neatly pulled up into a bun, engrossed

in her cooking.

The sight of her, always a pleasing one, caught his attention again.

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Yet, Eric's expression was one of concern. “Why are you working in here? Isn't the housekeeper supposed to

handle this? Also, haven't you had your dinner yet? It's quite late.”

“You're back,” Hadley responded without looking up initially, but then glanced at him as she tucked a loose

strand of hair behind her ear. “The housekeeper has finished for the day; I let her leave early.”

She noticed his puzzled look and said with a smile, “She prepared dinner before she left. I've eaten already.”

“Really?” Eric remained puzzled, watching her closely. “Then what has you so preoccupied right now?”

Her attire, complete with an apron, signaled her current task in the kitchen.

“I've prepared something special for you.” Hadley’s smile was warm as she spoke.

“For me?”

“Yes, just about ready,” Hadley replied, turning off the heat and removing the pot’s lid. Curious, Eric leaned in to

see a single pear, still in its skin, steaming inside the pot.

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“Have you been coughing lately?” she inquired.

“I read that steamed pears help soothe the throat,” Hadley explained as she donned oven mitts to carefully

extract the bowl from the pot.

“Let it cool a bit before you try it,” she said, setting the bowl aside to cool.

Looking up, she noticed Eric's astonished expression.

“Is something the matter?” Hadley asked, a hint of concern in her voice. “You don’t like pears?”

“No, it's just...” Eric paused, and then stepped forward to wrap his arms around her in a grateful embrace.

“Hadley, thank you for this. You really shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble for me.”

Caught off guard by his reaction, Hadley chuckled softly. “It’s really no trouble at all, quite simple actually.”

Eric’s smile was genuine, appreciating not the complexity of the task but the thoughtfulness behind it.

“Hadley,” he murmured, gently holding her chin.

“Do you grow feelings for me?” he inquired

He was aware of her past with Denver, wondering if

he still held any affection for him.

“Tell me, do you have even a slight liking for me?” he whispered.

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