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.

you’ve not yet met my little one.

photo. “You would’ve liked her. I know you would. Soon, I’ll make

wiped the

I could bring more, but these flowers are all I have right now.

clean, she knelt once more,

help me to secure a good income, and keep joy healthy,” Hadley murmured,

her grandmother and herself “You

eyes, which were rimmed red but

Grandma,” Hadley said, giving one last look at her grandmother’s photo before she

and walked away.

descended the hill, she noticed a

quickly pulled out a mask from her

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

tightly at

glare toward their departing figures. The audacity of their

here to disrupt the peace of this

fury if she

d her.

a fight, especially not

she decided to wait them out and let them leave on their

half an hour, the group finally

her ascent, brushing

thoughtful, paused and looked back at

at?” one of his companions asked,

lapse with

increased her pace, eager to return

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The People Visiting

had placed was a new

softly, her eyes narrowing at the lavish bouquet. She grasped it and whispered, “Gembong, the is from them, but don’t worry. We don’t want

aside but decided against it, not wanting to

nearby.

Hadley took the bouquet from the cemetery and disposed of it in a

her as she walked away from the

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

before meeting Eric.

looked up,

started to fall as

shield herself from the sudden downpour. She hadn’t thought to bring an umbrella, and the idea

her pace, she dashed towards the shelter of

offered some cover from

time I board the

arrived, Hadley hurried aboard. Finding a seat, she settled in for the

leaned her head against the cool glass of the wife trying

and despite the discomfort, fatigue

fell asleep.

commotion suddenly startled

in chaos, with passengers standing and trying to see what was causing a delay outside.