Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't Afford Me by Thedora Birnir

Chapter 26

Chapter 26 Was It Worth It

Linda was upset by Eric’s words. What did he mean she didn’t understand Hadley?

Or did he mean to say he did?

To the extent that he’d sacrificed his meal to find her?

However, once outside, Eric found no trace of Hadley.

Where could she have gone? With Nyla’s surgery still underway, it was unlikely she’d just leave.

Eric retrieved his phone and called Hadley’s number.

Hadley didn’t answer, but he already heard the ringtone. Suddenly, he realized the sound was close by.

Drawn by the ringtone, Eric headed toward the fire escape stairwell where he saw Hadley.

“Hello?” Hadley spoke into her phone, just as the call disconnected. “Huh? What’s happening?”

“What are you doing here?” Eric’s voice emerged unexpectedly from behind her.

Caught off guard, Hadley turned sharply, her eyes wide with surprise. “Eric, what brings you he

“It’s you I should be questioning,” Eric retorted, his expression tinged with irritation. “Why are you secluding yourself out here? Come and join me for lunch. Must I really persuade you like a child?”

“There‘

o need for that!”

“Not this again!”

Eric was growing tired of the repetition. “Hadley, is that all you can say to me? We have no idea when Grandma will be out of surgery. What if she needs you and you’ve passed out from not eating? I don’t want to deal with

that mess.”

“I don’t really need to…”

“Tell me the truth…”

Eric’s dark eyes intensified as they focused on Hadley’s face as he interrupting her. “Are you just avoiding Linda?”

What?

Hadley was taken aback. Was that his assumption?

Her silence led him to believe he was correct.

Eric’s voice, laced with a hint of sarcasm, carried through the air. “Thinking back, was it worth it? You know,

you get what you give.”

Hadley fixed her gaze on Eric, unblinking, and then abruptly questioned, “Did Linda say that?”

0.0%

OO

19:15

O

>

Linda actually told Eric that she was

seemed puzzled by

“Never mind…”

the matter further. It felt pointless to even

Eric had unconditionally sided with Linda. Was there

Hadley was beyond trying to vindicate herself at

her head. “It’s nothing, really,”

“I don’t need anything. You all go ahead and have lunch. I have my or

you got there?”

attention suddenly shifted to something

He noticed it.

Hadley’s seat was her black backpack with an open lunchbox

of the

were noodles accompanied by

spot anything else, but that

looked puzzled and a bit concerned. “Hadley, is that what you’re eating for

responded, her face showing resolve.

would Hadley eat so

understatement. What made her choose something

”

kind of diet harmful to her

provided Hadley with a monthly stipend. She had more than enough to live well, even by Srixby’s

clearly wasn’t the issue here. There had to be another

suggested. Hadley

your figure by eating that little?” Eric’s frustration was evident as he looked Hadley

yourself! You’re so thin, a gust of wind might blow

remained silent, her

snapped, frustrated. “If you insist on

will suffer,

dismissive gesture, Eric spun

23.4%

O Q

|||

19:15

O

<

It

last, he was gone.

managed a weak smile, sat down again, and resumed eating her now cold lunch, each

food seemed to stick in her throat, prompting her to

in the lounge, Eric reappeared, his mood

happened

Eric retorted sharply. The mere thought of Hadley seemed to

caught up in her dietary fads. Just leave her to

head. “I warned you,

some more.”

at two in the afternoon, and Nyla

Eric thoroughly on

Ideally, a family member should be present.

better to family.”

“I’ll stay!”

“I’ll stay!”

Hadley said at the same

Hadley, who then hesitated. “I mean,

enough.”

suggested, “Perhaps both of you should consider staying. For one,

a female could offer in caring for an elder. Additionally, should any decisions need

prudent for Mr. Flynn to

observing both Eric and Hadley for

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255