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

Chapter 19 The People Visiting The Cemetery

“I’m not trying to delay this needlessly, Hadley protestad

Eric interjected, “We’re not wasting any more time

He was dearly not interested in exces. “We’re doing this today. I can’t keep setting aide offer commitments for this. My time is valuable.”

And with that, he ended the call abruptly

A wry smile appeared on Hadley’s face as she held her phone lightly

How could she make it more dear to him that she was not hanging on? Those days were long gone.

She exhaled deeply, resigning herself to the inevitable. “So it has to be today, she murmored

The task would not be simple, especially not today

She felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, worse than usual.

Heading towards Kingsbridge Cemetery on the city’s west side, where her grandmother lay resting, Hadley braced herself against the discomfort.

The sky was a mix of clouds and weak sunshine.

The cemetery was located atop a hill. Despite the persistent pain, Hadley ascended slowly, duter ng a bouquet she had picked up on her way.

She finally reached her destination.

Hadley was drenched in sweat from the climb, wiping it off as she knelt before her grandmother’s grave.

Placing the bouquet gently in front of the engraved headstone, she managed a tender smile towards the image of her grandmother carved in the stone.

“Grandma, I’ve come to visit,” she murmured softly.

As she spoke, her voice broke slightly, and tears began to stream down her cheeks.

“I’m so sorry it took so long, Grandma. I haven’t been here in four years. The flights back were just too costly

for me.”

She had been doing somewhat better financially since meeting Colleen.

Still, it had been just enough to scrape by, and returning to Srixby had seemed impossible until the Flynn family intervened financially.

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Chapter 19 The People Visiting The Cemetery

Drawing a deep breath, Hadley continued, “Grandma, I’m staying for good this time. No one’s going to foros me out again. I’m here to stay in my city, and I’ll visit you more often. That’s a promise

Through her tears, she smiled, pulling out her wallet to reveal a photo in it.

my little one.

held up a photo. “You would’ve liked her. I know

wiped the headstone with

these flowers are all I have right now. When things get better, bring you

clean, she knelt once

a good income, and keep joy healthy,” Hadley murmured, her

to her grandmother and herself “You know I’m strong.

her eyes, which were rimmed red but no longer

giving one last look at her grandmother’s photo

and walked away.

the hill, she

She quickly pulled out

her, not giving her a second glance, yet her heart continued to race.

tightly

glare toward their departing figures. The

here to disrupt the

imagined her grandmother’s fury if

d her.

a fight, especially not when they outnumbered her and

decided to wait them out and let

hour, the group

her disguise, Hadley resumed her ascent, brushing past them

the men, middle–aged and thoughtful, paused and looked

are you staring at?” one

answered, quickly dismissing his lapse with

eager to return to her grandmother’s resting

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Chapter 19 The

to the simple bouquet Hadley had placed was a new one,

it and whispered, “Gembong, the is from them, but don’t worry. We don’t want their offerings. I’ll remove it to keep your

just throwing it aside but decided against it, not wanting to

nearby.

cemetery

of relief surged through her as she walked away from

she headed toward the bus stop, it read eleven o’clock. She had ample

before meeting Eric.

away. As she walked, Hadley looked up, noticing the sky darkening quickly as heavy clouds gathered. “Looks

fall as Hadley neared the bus

the sudden downpour. She hadn’t thought to bring an umbrella, and the idea of soaking her clothes through filled her with

she dashed towards the shelter of the

offered some

up by the time I board the

hurried aboard. Finding a seat, she settled in for the long ride from the cemetery in Kingsbridge back to the heart

stomach persisted, so she leaned her head against the cool glass

had taken its toll, and despite the

fell asleep.

commotion suddenly

bus was in chaos, with passengers standing and trying to see what was causing