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

Chapter 4 She Had No Right To Give Up

“Really?”

Eric’s smile was cold, dripping with scorn.

“So, this is about money, isn’t it? Not even a month has passed. What’s the hurry? Rest assured, you’ll receive your due. Just be patient. Surely, you don’t think we’d let you go hungry?”

He paused briefly, his tone becoming terse. “Avoid calling me unless it’s urgent. I’ll get in touch if there’s any need.”

With those final words, the conversation abruptly ceased.

Clasping the phone tightly, Hadley’s shock was evident.

To such an extent, Eric despised her.

“Absurd.”

With a frail chuckle, Hadley’s face turned ashen. Requesting money from him had left her feeling profoundly demeaned.

In silence, she lifted her hand to her unchanged stomach, closed her eyes, and allowed tears to escape quietly.

Eight months had passed.

Hadley was sleeping peacefully in her modest room, her pregnant belly prominently displayed.

The arrival of her child was approaching. Despite the doctor’s recommendation for an early hospitalization due to the baby’s backside position, Hadley merely smiled and

remained silent.

Her pockets were empty.

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Chapter 4 She Had No Right To Give Up

Eight months earlier, following that call with Eric, he had spewed nothing but cruelty.

Yet, the financial support he promised never materialized.

Hadley had drained her savings. With no way to afford her apartment anymore, she ended up in a run–down neighborhood.

She never reached out to him for financial help again.

The thought of being labeled a parasite was unbearable.

After moving, Hadley managed to secure some part–time work, balancing it with her

studies.

Her earnings were limited, but through careful budgeting, she made enough to sustain herself.

As she drifted in sleep, the night erupted with cries of alarm.

“Fire!”

The shout pierced the air.

“Escape!”

Roused abruptly, Hadley leaped from her bed and threw open her door to a scene of utter chaos. Smoke engulfed the corridor as flames danced violently.

Her complexion drained of color in an instant.

“Hadley!”

Her neighbor, a fellow student, was frantic with worry as he caught sight of her.

“Why haven’t you fled? It’s a fire! Get out now!”

“Right, got it!”

In a rush, Hadley spun around to snatch her backpack.

She moved to venture deeper into her apartment, but her neighbor’s firm grip stopped her. “Are you out of your mind? Why are you heading back in? Leave immediately!”

“I must!”

Hadley’s frustration was clear as she stamped her foot.

Inside, her savings lay–every single penny she had painstakingly gathered for her baby’s

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4 She Had No fight To

needs: hospital bills, diapers,

to retrieve

moment, a flaming

“Ah!”

stepped back, narrowly

forward was now obstructed by

“Hadley! Escape now!”

“No!”

head, she couldn’t consider leaving Breaking away, she made a

“Ah!”

closer to her. Turning swiftly, Hadley felt the flames lick at her lower back, eliciting a sharp wince of

“Hadley!”

neighbor reached out and yanked her to safety.

with a shake of her head, even as coughs wracked her body, spurred by the

“Let’s go, now!”

neighbor pleaded, “You can’t return

“But…”

you both! If you go

almost forcibly by her neighbor, Hadley managed to flee from

ed to retrieve her savings. Powerless, she watched as her modest home

she

31.0%

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O

<

“Ah!”

intense pain struck her, causing Hadley to grasp her

matter?

crowd formed around

“She’s having her baby!”

an ambulance! We need to get

“Ah!”

“Stay strong!”

to the hospital and positioned on a delivery table. She withstood a harrowing and dangerous labor

delivered

nurse tenderly placed the newborn in her arms, and tears

Here was her child…

Her own family…

alone in

the outrage of the moment, she let her

consciousness.

Hadley held her infant close,

her demeanor, was nearby, observing Hadley. She had come to discuss the outstanding hospital bills. Hadley had managed to pay

head, at a

felt utterly defeated, with nothing

by compassion and noting Hadley’s youth,

47.6%

+4

x+

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ок

an uncaring

friends, who could assist you? Call them the nurse gently suggested, and then

eyes began to brim

Friends? She had

could not ignore

through her bag, she

She called Eric.

phone echoed unanswered

call

“Eric…”

“Hello?”

Linda’s voice that responded, smooth and

But feel free to talk

truly

Linda harbor resentment

however, Hadley had no room

were non–existent

pride, Hadley hesitated, and then said, “I was wondering if he might… possibly help with some

her request carefully, not as charity