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

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

the headstone

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

she knelt once more, whispering

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

reassuringly, both to her grandmother and herself “You know I’m strong. There’s no need to

red but no

giving one last

and walked away.

the hill, she noticed a

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

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

fists clenched tightly at

toward their departing figures. The audacity of their presence

they here to disrupt the

grandmother’s fury if she

d her.

mood for a fight, especially not when they outnumbered her and she was already feeling off

wait them out and let them leave on

about half an hour, the group

her ascent, brushing

thoughtful, paused and looked back

one

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

eager to

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19 The

simple bouquet Hadley had placed was a new one, larger and far

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

against

nearby.

the bouquet from the cemetery and disposed of it in a

of relief surged through her as

it read

before meeting Eric.

in a secluded area, with the nearest bus stop a ten–minute walk away. As she walked, Hadley looked up, noticing the sky darkening quickly as heavy clouds

fall as

She hadn’t

dashed towards the

the stop offered some cover from the

by the time

for the long ride from the cemetery in Kingsbridge back to

she leaned her head against the cool glass of

taken its toll, and despite the discomfort, fatigue soon overtook her, and

fell asleep.

loud commotion suddenly startled

see what was causing a