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

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

wiped the headstone with a

could bring more, but these flowers are all I have right

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

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

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

rimmed red but no longer teary,

one last look at her

and walked away.

descended the hill, she noticed a

her heart skipped a beat. She quickly pulled out a

past her, not giving her a second

tightly at her

she sent a fierce glare toward their departing

disrupt the peace of this

her grandmother’s fury if

d her.

in the mood for a fight, especially not when they outnumbered her and she

wait them out and

an hour, the group finally began

her disguise, Hadley resumed her

thoughtful, paused and looked back at Hadley as she moved

staring at?” one of his

man answered, quickly dismissing his lapse with a

eager to

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The People Visiting The

was a new one, larger and far

lavish bouquet. She grasped it and whispered, “Gembong, the is from them, but don’t worry.

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

nearby.

bouquet from the cemetery and disposed of it

sense of relief surged through her as she walked away

it read eleven o’clock. She had

before meeting Eric.

bus stop a ten–minute walk away. As she walked, Hadley looked up, noticing the sky darkening quickly as heavy clouds gathered. “Looks like rain might be on

as Hadley

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

up her pace, she dashed towards the shelter of

some cover from

it’ll let up by the time I

for the

her head against the cool glass of

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

fell asleep.

commotion suddenly

with passengers standing and trying to see what was causing