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

Chapter 191 Maybe Try A Little Harder To Hide It

Eric lowered his gaze slightly, giving a small nod. “Alright. What is it you want to say?”

Linda's lips pressed together before she spoke, her voice laced with quiet frustration. “Aren’t you even going to

ask how I got hurt?”

That question...

Without answering right away, he reached for the medical kit, closing it carefully before exhaling. “I may not

know the details, but | don’t believe Ernest would have done it on purpose.”

Linda's fingers curled slightly, her smile turning wry.

“No, he didn’t.” Her voice softened, tinged with something almost fragile. “But sometimes, the worst wounds

don’t cfrom deliberate cruelty... They cfrom carelessness.”

Eric had no immediate response.

Sthings-especially emotions-were too personal for outsiders to untangle. Even well-meaning interference

often backfired and made things worse.

*Eric.”

Her voice carried an odd weight now, something deeper than before. “If-and | mean if-Ernest truly betrayed

me... would you help me?”

“What are you talking about? He won't hurt you like that!” Eric's chest tightened slightly. He didn’t want to

entertain that thought.

I'm asking you-what if!”

Linda's insistence sharpened, her eyes growing red as she pressed on. “Eric, you once promised me-you said.

you'd always be good to me, that you'd helpno matter what. Did you mean it?”

Eric frowned, his expression unreadable as he let the weight of her words settle.

Finally, he spoke, his tone measured but firm. “If that day ever comes... | won't turn a blind eye. | won't abandon

you

That was all he could give her

With that, he picked up the medical kit and stood. “You can sleep in the guest room downstairs tonight. I'll bring

you a change of clothes”

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Chunter 191 Maybe Try A Little Harder To Hide It

Eric stepped into the master bedroom, where the only light cfrom the soft glow of the wall lamp.

Hadley was already in bed, her breathing slow and steady, but he wasn’t convinced she was fully asleep.

Moving quietly, he entered the walk-in closet, retrieved a set of clothes, and returned to sit at the edge of the

bed.

He hesitated for a second, and then spoke softly, not wanting to startle her. “Hey.”

No response. But he wasn't fooled. The slight flutter of her eyelashes gave her away.

He continued anyway. “Linda is staying in the guest room downstairs tonight. | took a set of your clothes for her.

Do you think this set is okay?”

At that, Hadley’s eyes slowly opened. She didn’t look at the clothes. Instead, she let out a quiet chuckle, her

voice tinged with amusement and mild irritation. “I was just about to fall asleep, and you wokeup for this?

Why does it even matter?”

Eric reached for her hand, feeling the slight tension in her fingers.

“Because they're your clothes,” he said gently. “I figured I should ask you.”

Hadley let out a soft, lazy laugh

“Don’t say things like that, Eric. Everything here is yours, not mine. You make the decisions, not me. Didn't you

already decide to let Linda stay without asking me?”

Eric's jaw tightened slightly. “That's because- His expression darkened slightly as he lowered his voice. “It’s late,

she was upset, and she refused to go home. If she went out alone at this hour, something could have

happened.”

How thoughtful of him, indeed!

Hadley didn’t bother arguing. It wasn’t worth the effort..

Eric let out a slow breath. “The situation was urgent-I didn’t have tto ask you. That was my mistake...” He

paused, studying her expression carefully. “I'll be more mindful next time.”

He wasn’t blind. He could tell she wasn’t exactly thrilled after everything that had happened tonight.

“As for these clothes,” he added, glancing at the neatly folded set in his hands. “I noticed you hadn't even

removed the tags, so | figured you didn’t like them much. Linda can have them, and I'll have new ones sent to

you ”

Hadley exhaled sharply, waving a dismissive hand. “Go on. She’s waiting, isn’t she? Don’t keep her waiting.”

Her tone was indifferent, but Eric felt no relief. In fact, an unexpected tightness settled in his chest. Why did it

bother him that she was letting it go so easily?

“Umm?” Hadley arched a brow when she noticed he was still sitting there. “Why are you still here? Aren't your

leaving?”

Eric hesitated for half a second before finally standing up. “Alright. Ill go. Get srest.”

“Mhm.”

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Chapter 191 Maybe Try A Little Harder To Hide It

“Oh, right...” Her expression turned shrewd as she narrowed her gaze at him. “Is it true? That Ernest is two-

timing? Her smirk deepened. “And if he is-Do you see this as your chance?”

“Hadley-"

“Oh, | see it now!” Hadley clapped her hands together, laughing lightly. “It is your chance, isn’t it?”

She waved him off, her tone laced with amusement and derision. “Go on, Eric! What are you still doing here?

Don’t waste twith me-go be her hero!”

“Hadley!” Eric's temper finally snapped. His voice, tight with anger, cut through the air like a whip. “Do you

really think so little of me?”

“Yes.” Hadley didn’t even hesitate.

Tonight, she had seen enough. She was sick of it.

Hadley had always known their relationship was transactional, a mutual convenience. She had never been under

any illusions about that. But did he and Linda really have to be so blatant about it?

At the very least, they could have had the decency to keep their flirtation out of her sight.

Her gaze flicked toward the set of clothes in Eric’s hands: A smirk tugged at her lips. “What's this act for?” She

gestured lazily, “Coming to ask my opinion? Spare me. There's not a single piece in that closet that actually suits

me. Are these the only ones with the tags still on?” She arched a brow, “Because there are plenty more- all of

them Linda's style.”

“Wait- His brows furrowed slightly. “You don’t like any of them? Why didn’t you say something?”

Was that really the point?

Hadley let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “There was nothing to say.”

Her voice was calm, almost detached. “I know exactly what | am to you-just a convenient cover. And honestly? |

don’t care.” Hadley continued, her tone light but razor-sharp, “But if possible, let's avoid situations like tonight,

alright? What | mean is if you're going to do it, at least don’t do it in front of me.

It wasn’t jealousy. Not even close. “In my book, getting involved with your own brother's wife is just...

disgusting.”

“Hadley!”

Eric's face darkened instantly. His entire demeanor shifted, his expression shadowed by a storm of emotions.

Hadley had already lost interest in the conversation. With a tired sigh, she waved him off.

“Go ahead-run along to your beloved.” Her lips curled slightly, her next words deliberate. “Don’t worry-I won't

tell Ernest about you two. I'll just tell him you spent the night withinstead...”

“That's it!”

Eric's temper finally snapped.

A sharp pain pulsed at his temples, irritation flaring in his eyes as he let out a low, bitter laugh.

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Too Late Mr. Billionaire You Cant AffordNow

Chapter 192 W