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.

0.0%

19:13

O

<

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.

met my little

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

wiped the headstone with a

flowers are all I have right now. When things

knelt once more, whispering a silent

help me to secure a good income, and keep joy

reassuringly, both to her grandmother and herself “You know I’m strong. There’s

but no longer teary, she murmured a

said, giving one last look at her grandmother’s

and walked away.

the hill, she

beat. She quickly pulled out a mask from her

her, not giving her a second glance, yet

clenched tightly at

she sent a fierce glare toward their departing

they here to disrupt the

imagined her grandmother’s fury

d her.

the mood for a fight, especially not when

decided to wait them out

about half an hour, the group finally

resumed her ascent, brushing past them once

paused and looked back at Hadley as she moved

at?” one of his

lapse with

eager to return to her grandmother’s

23.0%

x4

19.13

O

<

19 The People Visiting The

was a new one, larger

eyes narrowing at the lavish bouquet. She grasped it and whispered, “Gembong, the is from

against it, not wanting to show Osterfect to the

nearby.

the cemetery and disposed

sense of relief surged through her as she walked

as she headed toward the bus stop, it

before meeting Eric.

walk away. As she walked, Hadley looked up, noticing the sky darkening quickly

as Hadley

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

she dashed towards the shelter

offered some cover from the heavy

up by the time I

the bus arrived, Hadley hurried aboard. Finding a seat, she settled in for the long ride from the cemetery in Kingsbridge

head against the cool glass of

and despite the discomfort, fatigue soon

fell asleep.

suddenly startled

trying to see what was causing a delay outside. The driver had left his