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

Chapter 32 What is Wrong

With Him

Hadley fetched a basin of water, pushed up her sleeves, and dove into wiping down Myla’s body with all the care in the world, taking her sweet time. She swapped out Hyla’s old clothes for fresh ones, her hands moving soft and steady, like she was handling something precious.

Meanwhile, Marshall and Eric were parked across from each other, shooting the breeze,

Marshall tipped his head toward the inner room where Hadley was busy, “She is not the same girl she used to be, huh?”

“Not the same girl?” Eric muttered, a flicker of irritation sparking inside him. “You’ve barely crossed paths with her since she returned. What makes you think you’ve got her all figured out?”

Marshall clicked his tongue, narrowing his eyes. “You don’t need a decade to spot it. The way she car: herself, that look in her eyes–it’s like night and day now.”

His voice had a warm edge, like he was tipping his hat to her.

Eric wasn’t having it, his lips twisting into a smirk. “Old habits cling like burrs. It’s all a front, I’m telling you!”

“A front?” Marshall raised a brow, clearly not sold. “What has she got to prove to you or me? Look, I get it-

you’ve never been her biggest fan–but didn’t you both sign the divorce papers already?”

His tone cut right through Eric’s grumbling, sharp and knowing.

He nodded toward the room again before continuing, “Check out how she is tending to Nyla. Cut her some slack, man. Just treat her like family–like a sister or something.”

Eric let out a dry huff. “Since when did you turn into a chatterbox? You came to see my grandma but barely lifted a finger. Finish your grub and hit the road!”

“I refuse to,” Marshall jokingly replied. “I promise to save my meal for Hadley…”

“Enough!” Eric let out a half–amused, half–fed–up chuckle. “She is my sister now, isn’t she? Don’t worry, I’ve got this–now scram!”

“Fair enough,” Marshall said with a shrug.

He wolfed down the last of his breakfast in a couple of hasty bites. “I’ll hit the road then.”

“Sweet,” Eric replied, tossing him a casual nod. “I’ll be a tad late, though.”

The two had been teaming up on a project and originally planned to head out together after Marshall swung by to see Nyla.

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But life threw a curveball, and Eric had to hang back a little longer.

Soon after Marshall bolted, Hadley slipped out of the inner room. She had just finished sprucing up Nyla- cleaned her up, got her into some fresh clothes–and was clutching a bundle of dirty clothes.

to Hadley, all chipper. “Let me

passing them off with a

flicked his eyes toward Hadley, his voice softening before he could catch himself. “Go scrub

Hadley replied, heading off to freshen up.

back, Eric jerked his chin at the chair across from

for a loop.

to hit the road pronto–she was already

I say sit,” Eric snapped, his brow creasing. Patience wasn’t exactly his forte. “What is the big deal? The chair is not gonna eat you.

let out a quiet sigh but plopped down

can be. He waved a hand at the untouched breakfast spread–his portion -still

“Dion de

in.”

Say what now?

on her. Eric was offering her food? Earlier, he had practically put up a “no Hadley allowed” sign around

clocked Hadley’s hesitation and read her mind like

hard, practically choking on the words. “Look, earlier? That

dreaming. In all the time she had

she figured it all boiled down to

only natural you’d rather not bump into someone who rubs you the wrong way. But I’m here for Nyla, not you. I’ll be more careful and make sure

smile, nodding at the table. “You’ve got nothing to feel bad about. I’ll pass on breakfast.”

an apology, and she still wasn’t

so you’ll scarf down whatever Marshall shoves your way, but when

mind flashed back to Hadley’s warm smile at Marshall, and it lit a fire in his

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is

eyes, Eric spat out his words

sure looked cozy grinning at Marshall earlier, huh?

blinked, completely

was he even

wasn’t letting up.

blazed with fury, a wild

way out of your league–don’t even think about it! Setting aside the fact that everyone in this town knows your name for all the wrong reasons, you’re

a word, her initial stun giving way as

Eric twisted the knife. “Talk

shaking like a leaf caught in a storm.

even exist? How had she ever fallen for a guy

her smile faint but sharp

my league! But you? Can you sink any lower than lusting after your own brother’s woman? Is there a soul in Srixby who hasn’t heard about that dirty little secret of yours?”

leaving a thick, suffocating silence in their wake.

his glare turning icy and downright sinister as it swallowed Hadley

on her heel, snatched her backpack off the couch, and hightailed it

out the door.

chiseled face darkened, his lips pressed into a thin, furious line. “I shouldn’t have even bothered with