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

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

wiped the headstone with a

wish I could bring more, but these flowers are all I have right now. When things get better,

she knelt

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

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

were rimmed red but no longer

giving one last look at

and walked away.

hill,

She quickly pulled out a mask from her

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

clenched tightly

their departing figures. The audacity

to disrupt the peace of this

grandmother’s fury if

d her.

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

decided to wait them out and let

an hour, the group

resumed her ascent, brushing past them

thoughtful, paused and looked back at Hadley as she moved

one of his

the man answered, quickly dismissing his lapse with

to return to her

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19 The People Visiting

simple bouquet Hadley had placed was a

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 their offerings. I’ll remove

against

nearby.

took the bouquet from the cemetery and disposed

sense of relief surged through her as she walked away from the trash

bus stop, it read eleven o’clock. She had ample time to

before meeting Eric.

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

started to fall as Hadley neared

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

pace, she dashed towards the shelter of the

some cover from

it’ll let up by the time I board the bus,” she

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

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

early morning wake–up had taken its toll, and despite the discomfort,

fell asleep.

suddenly startled Hadley

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