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

Chapter 194 A Week

Overdue

“Haha! Hahaha!”

A peal of laughter erupted from Hadley’s lips, unrestrained and wild. Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she

doubled over, unable to contain her mirth.

“Hadley!” Eric’s voice cut through the air, sharp with exasperation.

“You're entirely correct!”

Hadley chuckled, her eyes sparkling with vitality, devoid of any resentment. She genuinely found the situation

humorous.

“Four years have slipped by, and I'm still the same. So are you.”

Just as in days past, no matter the circumstance, Eric unfailingly stood by Linda's side without a flicker of doubt

or pause!

Hadley let out a quiet sigh. Did he even realize how her notorious reputation had cto be all those years ago?

This his partiality-was precisely the root cause!

Eric only ever witnessed her outbursts and missteps, never pausing to wonder what had provoked them!

But thad marched on, and now, four years later, the things that once held such weight in her heart and

bothered her so much no longer did.

After her laughter subsided, Hadley spoke with a languid air. “I'm sorry, but I'll never offer an apology. Not in a

million years. Isn't that why you're here, Mr. Flynn?”

She cast a sly smile at Eric. “You're Linda's ever-faithful lapdog. With your pitiful devotion-pathetic even, you're

bound to find sways to keep her smiling, just like old times.”

“Hadley!”

Eric’s voice thundered with rage as Hadley abruptly swept her arm across the table, sending its contents

tumbling to the floor, in a chaotic clatter.

“Oh, gosh!” Linda leapt to her feet, startled.

“Hadley Eric's fun!

over, his temples throbbing, veins bulging as he spat her nthrough gritted teeth.

“Right here for you,” Hadley replied coolly, meeting Eric's glare with a faint, defiant smirk. “Let’s raise the

stakes! Be sure to pamper her until she is positively glowing!”

Hadley wasn’t the pushover she once was. If Linda wished for more s, then Hadley would happily grant

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her wish. They could all wallow in misery together if that was what it took!

With that, she turned on her heel, her expression blank, and strode out

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“Eric “Linda’s voice trembled slightly. “Are you all right?

Eric stood rooted to the spot, a frigid aura radiating from him.

“Eric Linda hesitated before giving him a gentle nudge. “This is my fault-1've caused a rift between you two Why

don’t you go after her? the doesn’t have a car, she can’t have gotten for ”

“I'm not chasing after her!”

Eric’s jaw tightened as he spun around. Why should he pursue her? Look at the havoc she had wreaked!

Even the bottle of ketchup he had dashed two streets to fetch for her lay toppled amidst the mess

What was the point of treating her kindly? She was nothing but an ungrateful troublemaker!

Calling him pathetic?

Fine, so he was pathetic! Pathetic for bending over backwards to treat her well!

As Hadley boarded the bus departing silver Villas, her racing heart began to settle.

She had to admit-she had acted on impulse.

Those two might be insufferable, but it wasn’t as though their nature was news to her.

For joy’s sake, she should have bitten her tongue. Yet she hadn't.

Eric hadn't been entirely off the mark-old habits were tough to break. She hadn't changed one bit.

Her temper still flared too easily, a far cry from Linda's poised demeanor.

A misstep on her part.

What now?

Was this truly the end for her and Eric?

It would be a simple matter for him to find someone new, but for her, he was an indispensable asset, a tool like

no other.

Did she truly have to return and attempt to mend things with him? Humble herself and plead for his pardon? She

sighed, closing her eyes and reclining in her seat.

What was done was done, she reasoned. There would be no sense in dwelling on it anymore besides, she hadn't

exactly been in the mood to cater to his whims that day.

Upon her return to the city, Hadley made her first stop at her apartment

Joy, who hadn't laid eyes on her mother in days, was positively buzzing with excitement, her words tumbling out

in a ceaseless stream “Mommy, mommy!”

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“Yes, darling, yes,” Hadley replied with equal enthusiasm, not the least bit exasperated. Each tJoy called out,

she responded with a warm smile.

All morning long, Joy trailed her mother like a shadow-even to the bathroom.

“Mommy,” Joy chirped, perched on a tiny stool just outside the door. “Why’re you taking so long?”

Hadley couldn't help but chuckle, though she felt a touch exasperated. How could she explain that having her

little one glued to her side made certain tasks... trickier?

“Be a good girl, Joy,” she said gently. “Go play with Melba for a bit. Mommy will be out in no time.”

“Okay, mommy,” Joy agreed with a nod.

After having lunch with Joy and tucking her into bed for a nap, Hadley left hand set off for the dance troupe.

fell upon Elissa

As she reached the end of the staff corridor, her gaze fell

She wasn’t alone. Standing beside her was that man from before... Robin, if memory served.

“Speak your piece and be quick about it,” Elissa said icily, tilting her head with an air of impatience. “I've got

work to do. Let's not dawdle.”

“What's with that tone of yours?” Robin snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin as a scowl creased his brow.

“If you hadn't blocked my number, do you think | would have bothered coming here?”

“Humph,” Elissa scoffed, her lips curling into a sneer. “You know, no one’s forcing you to show up!”

evou..

Robin faltered, pointing at Elissa, momentarily at a loss for words. “I'm not here to bicker! | cto tell you to

chfor dinner this weekend.”

The Torres family held a monthly gathering, a tradition no one dared skip.

Elissa smirked. So he still cared about keeping up appearances, did he?

“Did you hear me?” Robin barked, clearly done with the conversation. “And takeoff your blacklist while

you're at it!”

With that, he spun on his heel and stormed off.

Hadley, observing from a distance, couldn't catch the details of their exchange and instead made her way to the

locker room

Shortly after, Elissa returned, clutching her stomach and looking as pale as a ghost, visibly unwell.

“Elissa, what's the matter? Hadley hurried over, guiding her to a seat as she noticed her friend gripping her

midsection

“Is it that tof the month again?” Hadley asked quietly.

“Yes.” Elissa nodded weakly.

“Hold on a moment,” Hadley said with haste. “I'll fetch you a glass of water.”

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Chapter 194 A Week Overdue

“Thank you,” Elissa murmured.

“No need to thank me,” Hadley replied with a reassuring smile.

Moments later, Hadley returned with a cup in hand and passed it to Elissa. “It’s warm-it should help soothe you.

I've also got spainkillers if the discomfort gets worse.”

“Not just yet,” Elissa said with a faint smile, shaking her head. “It's not quite that unbearable.”

Primarily, Elissa’s mood remained shadowed by her earlier clash with Robin, the sting of their exchange still

lingering like a stubborn fog

“Alright, if the pain sharpens, just givea shout,” Hadley offered gently.

“Will do.” Elissa managed a small smile, nodding in appreciation. “You're always ready for anything, aren't you?”

“Naturally.” Hadley chuckled softly. “Every tthat monthly visitor arrives, it’s like a tempest sweeping

through...”

Hadley’s thoughts screeched to a halt, her breath catching in her throat.

Why hadn't her own cycle made its appearance this month? With a flicker of urgency, she reached for her phone

and pulled up her calendar. Her eyes scanned the dates-no mistake about it... she was already a week overdue!

Could it be?

Her pulse quickened, a wild hope fluttering in her chest. Could it possibly be the answer to her quiet dreams?

“Steady now, Hadley! Steady!” she chided herself, trying to tthe whirlwind of her emotions.

She could settle her nerves with a quick trip to the pharmacy.

With the evening's performance still hours away, Hadley slipped out during a break in rehearsals and made her

way to a nearby drugstore.

After purchasing what she needed, she hurried back to the dance studio, her heart thudding like a drum as she

locked herself in a bathroom stall and unwrapped the pregnancy test

She pored over the instructions with care, following each step as if it were a sacred ritual.

Then, closing her eyes, she pressed her hands together, her lips moving in a silent plea.

“Please, oh please,” she whispered to herself. lines.”

“Please let it show two

If it did, she might finally be free from the shadow of Eric's ever-changing moods!

Five agonizing minutes ticked by

Hadley’s eyes fluttered open, her breath held tight in her chest as she lifted the test with trembling fingers. And

there, staring back at her, she saw

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Too Late, Mr Bilionare You Can't AffordNow