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.

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

the headstone

these flowers are all I have

she knelt once more, whispering a silent

over us, help me to secure a good income,

to her grandmother and

were rimmed red but no longer

Hadley said, giving one last look at her grandmother’s photo

and walked away.

hill, she

heart skipped a beat. She quickly pulled out a mask from her

group moved past her, not giving her a second glance, yet her

fists clenched tightly at

a fierce glare toward their

here to disrupt

her grandmother’s fury if

d her.

a fight, especially not when

to wait them out and let them leave on their

about half an hour, the group finally began their

her ascent, brushing past

men, middle–aged and thoughtful, paused and

you staring at?” one of his companions

quickly dismissing his lapse with a forced chuckle. “Let’s just

to return to

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Chapter 19 The People Visiting

had placed was a new one,

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

but decided against it, not wanting to show Osterfect

nearby.

bouquet from the cemetery and disposed

through her as she walked

the bus stop, it

before meeting Eric.

bus stop a ten–minute walk away. As she walked, Hadley looked up, noticing the sky darkening quickly as heavy

started to fall as Hadley neared

herself from the sudden downpour. She hadn’t thought to bring

dashed towards the

the stop offered some cover from the heavy

by the time I board the bus,”

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

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

taken its toll, and

fell asleep.

commotion suddenly startled Hadley

to see what was causing a delay outside. The