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

Chapter 10 Unreasonable Favoritism

Hadley stiffened suddenly. She knew Eric was alluding to an incident from four years

earlier…

Indeed, in his perspective, she remained deeply flawed.

Hadley gave a small smile, and then gently pulled her arm back, quietly going along with what they wanted.

“I admit, it was my own carelessness.”

Nyla exhaled a worried sigh. “How could you be so careless? Introducing you is now a dilemma. It’s not merely about people misjudging my oversight. It also comes across as disrespectful. How do you plan to mingle with them now?”

She then addressed Eric. “Isn’t there a spare dress for her? This attire isn’t suitable.”

“Nyla.”

Before Eric could offer a solution, Hadley intervened with a reassuring smile. “It’s alright. If it complicates things, let’s skip the introductions.”

“What?” Nyla’s confusion was evident. “How can we overlook introductions at your own welcome home party?”

Not only Nyla, but Eric and Linda also gave Hadley bewildered looks, their expressions filled with curiosity.

Hadley paid no mind to their stares and offered Nyla a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it. Your generosity in arranging this event is more than enough for me. The finer details aren’t important.”

“But…”

Hadley noticed Nyla’s lingering concern and reassured her further. “There will be other opportunities.”

That seemed to resolve the matter.

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Chapter 10 Unreasonable Favoritism

Nyla took Hadley’s hand gently and gave it a comforting pat. “I’m so sorry things unfold like this.”

“Please, there’s no need for apologies. I’m quite alright.”

As she withdrew her hand, Hadley insisted, “The guests shouldn’t be kept waiting Go ahead without me. I’m not quite dressed for the occasion.”

Nyla exhaled a resigned sigh, torn but accepting.

“Look after yourself, and let’s chat later.”

“Of course.”

“Nyla.” With a warm smile, Linda looped her arm through Nyla’s. “Don’t be upset. Now that Hadley’s here, she’ll have plenty of time to spend with you. Why don’t I accompany you this evening?”

“Linda.” With a chuckle, Nyla affectionately squeezed Linda’s hand. “I love you too. Both of you are like granddaughters to me.”

They shared a laugh and moved on.

Eric initially followed but paused after a few paces, turning to look back at Hadley.

He observed her retreating figure from afar.

Her silhouette appeared solitary, prompting a frown from Eric… Had he been too harsh?

“Eric?”

Linda realized he was lagging behind and turned to see him staring at Hadley from afar.

She bit her lip slightly. “Did my earlier words upset you?”

“No.” Eric reassured her as he met her gaze. “You were protecting Grandma from worry. You acted appropriately. Why would I hold that against you?”

Linda’s face lit up with relief. “I appreciate your understanding. Shall we?”

“Sure.”

Hadley found herself at a secluded table, surrounded by strangers. Not recognizing anyone suited her just fine–she preferred solitude anyway.

for a quiet

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O

and grow be a comforting par Tim so

like this”

there’s no need to

inainted, “The gases shouldn’t be kept waiting, Go sheed without me. I’m not quite brassed

exhaled a resigned sigh, torn bout

and

“Of course.”

her arm through Nyla’s, “Don’t be upset. Now that Hadley’s here, she’ll have plenty of time

affectionately squeezed Linda’s hand. I love you too. Both of you are like granddaughters to

laugh and

but paused after a few paces, turning to look back

retreating figure from

appeared solitary, prompting a frown from Eric… Had he

“Eric?”

was lagging behind and turned to

slightly. “Did my earlier

reassured her as he met her gaze. “You were protecting Grandma from worry. You acted appropriately. Why

face lit up with relief. “I appreciate your understanding. Shall

“Sure.”

a secluded table, surrounded by strangers. Not recognizing anyone suited her just fine–she

a quiet evening were

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10 Unreasonable

and glanced at

“Who is that?”

for someone dressed like that to

eat, tuning out the murmurs. She hadn’t quite satisfied her appetite with

was exceptionally

spoon aside, Hadley grasped the soup plate with

“Unbelievable!”

“How rude!”

“We should leave.”

women departed with looks of

placing the plate back on the table, Hadley maintained

welcome relief.

the chair beside her was drawn back. Did one of those girls have a change of mind

in surprise, Hadley saw Eric positioning himself at the table,

faced her.

had he come over? Did she do something to upset him

there something you need?” Hadley

his expression tightening as he looked at her plate. It was piled

her previously more

was uncertain about his reasons for approaching her. Perhaps

changed. This event

been introduced properly to

been eventful. Linda has only recently entered the entertainment industry. It’s been a challenging journey for her,

His voice faded away.

grasped the situation. Was

for apologies, Eric struggled to say the simple word “sorry” directly. What was the point of this

“I’m

eventually pierced the

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Chapter 11 kneemable faptism

a light dude escaped Hadley, finding his worry somewhat

audiret hostility was

she engage further? Their relationship was a thing of

thought, Hadley offered a reassuring smile and a

Her composure remained intact

saw no cause for concern. “As long

her

way of