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.

little one. Here’s how adorable

her. I know you would. Soon,

wiped the headstone

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

the stone was clean, she knelt once more, whispering a silent

over us, help me to secure a good income, and keep joy

and herself “You know I’m

red but no

soon, Grandma,” Hadley said, giving one last look at her grandmother’s

and walked away.

the hill, she

She quickly pulled out a mask from her bag and put

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

clenched tightly at her

sent a fierce glare toward their departing figures. The

here to disrupt the peace of

fury if she

d her.

fists. She wasn’t in the mood for a fight, especially not when they outnumbered

out and let them leave on their

half an hour, the group finally

Hadley resumed her ascent, brushing past

and looked back

are you staring at?” one

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

eager to return to her grandmother’s resting

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Chapter 19 The People Visiting

was a new one,

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 their offerings. I’ll remove it

it aside but decided against it, not wanting to show Osterfect

nearby.

cemetery and disposed of it in a

of relief surged through her as

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

before meeting Eric.

with the nearest bus stop a ten–minute walk away. As she walked, Hadley looked up, noticing the

as Hadley neared the

backpack over her head to 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 the heavy

up by the time I board the bus,” she

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

her stomach persisted, so she leaned her head against the cool glass of the wife trying to ease

had taken its toll, and despite the discomfort,

fell asleep.

loud commotion suddenly

see what was causing a delay outside. The driver had left his seat, adding