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

Chapter 142 Fair Competition

Blanche and an elegant lady engaged in lively conversation as they entered, making their way straight to a

private dining room, intending to enjoy a quiet meal.

Hadley, keen to avoid causing any disturbance, grabbed the orange juice without understanding the insistence

behind it and drank it swiftly.

“Is that enough?” she questioned after finishing the drink.

“Absolutely.” Alita smirked, one eyebrow arching in amusement. “You're really generous!”

As Alita turned aside, a cunning smile flickered across her face, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Blanche happened to look their way just as the incident concluded,

The woman accompanying her was Stella, Barrie's mother.

Stella gestured towards Hadley as she asked, “Isn't she the one Mr. Flynn asked you to look after?”

“Yes, that’s her.” Blanche confirmed with a smile, her tone implying approval. “She possesses considerable

talent. | have no doubt she’ll beca leading figure in this troupe.”

“Really?” Stella expressed her relief and contentment. “That's excellent news. Now, let's eat. I'm quite hungry.”

“Let's go.”

Late into the night...

“Ugh... mm...”

The unsettling sounds abruptly woke Elissa, sending a chill down her spine. She flicked on the light and saw

Hadley in a fetal position on the bed, gripping her blanket tightly.

The source of the moaning was unmistakably Hadley.

“Hadley!”

Elissa sprang from her bed and hastened to her friend's side. “What's wrong? Are you okay?”

Sweating profusely, Hadley gripped her abdomen and then bolted for the bathroom.

She'd been feeling sick for stime. Unbeknownst to Elissa, Hadley had already made numerous trips to the

bathroom before.

Now, all that remained were the relentless cramps wracking her stomach.

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“Hadley, I'm coming in.”

With concern mounting, Elissa opened the bathroom door and extended a towel to her. “Is it stomach trouble?”

“Yes.” Hadley managed a weak nod, her face flush with embarrassment. “Please, givesprivacy.”

“What's there to be embarrassed about?” Elissa could tell Hadley was genuinely sick. “You didn’t choose to be

sick. Tellhow you're really feeling.”

Hadley tried to brush it off as nothing, but the pain was too sharp. “It’s pretty bad... My stomach is killing me.”

Elissa’s concern deepened.

“You shouldn’t ignore this.” She got up decisively. “I'll check with the hotel for smedicine.”

“Thanks so much.”

“Don’t mention it. It happens to everyone.”

With a dismissive gesture, Elissa exited to make the call.

Upon contacting the front desk, the receptionist assured her. “We have sbasic medications available. I'll

send someone up with them immediately.”

“Perfect, thanks.”

Anxious, Elissa stood by the door, keeping an eye out for the hotel staff.

Soon enough, a hotel employee cwith the medications. As they talked, the door adjacent to Elissa and

Hadley’s swung open and Blanche appeared. “Elissa, what's happening?”

“Ms. Nicolson,” Elissa responded, lifting the medicine packet. “It's Hadley. She's terribly unwell, possibly

something she ate. She's been to the bathroom repeatedly and is in severe pain now, so | secured some

medication for her.”

“Really?” Blanche approached with concern. “I'll check on her.”

“That would be great, thanks.”

Once inside, Blanche approached Hadley, who lay feeble in bed, and gently caressed her forehead.

“Try to rest after taking your medicine,” Blanche said softly. “If there's no improvement, inform Elissa to call me

immediately.”

“Thank you so much, Ms. Nicolson.”

“Don’t mention it,” Blanche replied as she stood to leave. “Just focus on getting better. I'll leave you to rest now.”

With that, Blanche exited the room and returned to her own.

Tonight, Stella was sharing a room with Blanche, who had invited her to a performance that unfortunately

coincided with a typhoon.

Blanche walked in with a look of concern, so Stella inquired, “What's the matter? Is everything alright?” Blanche

confirmed, nodding. “Hadley’s not feeling well; she’s suffering from stomach issues that seem quite bad.

I'm not sure if the medication will suffice.”

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The challenge was that, with the storm raging outside, getting Hadley to a hospital could beca major issue.

Stella tried to offer sreassurance. “Young people tend to bounce back quickly-"

Her reassurance was cut off by her phone ringing. Checking the caller ID, she chuckled before answering.

“Barrie, do you know how late it is to be calling your mother?”

“Sorry, sorry, my mistake.”

Barrie was on the other end of the line.

He was currently out of town and found himself needing a bit of assistance. “Mom, can you look something up in

the study for me? It's-"

Stella answered promptly, “I can’t assist you right now, son. I'm away from home. I'm currently in Tidebourne

with Blanche.”

“Oh, understood. I'll get in touch with Dad then.”

“Barrie!” Stella interjected just as he was about to end the call. “Just so you're aware, Hadley’s not doing well-

she has a stomach upset. Eric should be informed, shouldn't he?”

That gave Barrie pause. He quickly cto a realization-perhaps that guy “shouldn’t really know.”

“Just thought I'd mention it. Even if he’s aware, what's he supposed to do? Fly here to Tidebourne? The roads are

all shut. I'm going to hang up now. Better call your dad if you need something from the study.”

Barrie paused after he hung up, his thoughts racing, and then he picked up the phone once more and dialed

another number.

There was a long pause before the call was answered, and Eric's relaxed voice finally cthrough. “Why are

you calling so late? What's the urgency?”

“Well...” Barrie hesitated, but then decided to be straightforward. “Hadley’s currently in Tidebourne.”

Eric's response was immediate and dismissive. “And? You think I'm unaware?”

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“But are you aware she’s suffering from stomach cramps?” Barrie interjected sharply.

“What?” Eric's tone shifted immediately, alarmed. “She’s unwell?”

“Yes,” said Barrie. “I just spoke with my mom. You know, she’s there to see the performance.”

That confirmed his fears!

Eric sprang from his bed, casting aside the blanket with urgency.

Barrie added, “I'll be notifying Denver as well after our call. It’s only fair, right?”

The competition for Hadley’s affection would be a test of their individual efforts.

Eric clenched his jaw. “Understood, thank you!”

He ended the call briskly and began to dress, simultaneously calling Phillips.

“Phillips, | need you at Flynn Mansion, now. Bring your helicopter license!”

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Chapter 142 Fair Competition

“Understood, Mr. Flynn.”

Aware of the ongoing typhoon in Tidebourne and consequent road closures, dring, there when’t an option

Thankfully, both he and Phillips were licensed to pilot.

The Flynn family possessed a helicopter, a purchase made by Ernest

Though Denver was already in Tidebourne, putting Eric at a disadvantage, he tras determiner

Reaching Hadley first was his aim, despite his primary concern being her well being

At that smoment, Denver was on the other end of a call from Barrie.

“Hey, Barrie?”

“Denver, | need you to focus on what I'm telling you...”

Back at the hotel, despite taking the medicine, Hadley found no relief.

Her stomach was still in pain, and the pain was intensifying rather than subsiding

“Hadley?” Elissa, who was beside her, grew increasingly worried by the minute. The medicine had failed to help.

“This isn’t good. We need to get you to a hospital right away! I'm going to look for Ms. Nicolson”