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.

darted over to Hadley, all chipper. “Let me snag those for the

said, passing them off with a

toward Hadley, his voice softening before

heading off to freshen

came back, Eric jerked his chin at the chair across

loop. “What’s up? You

the road pronto–she was already pushing it to get back to

Patience wasn’t exactly his forte. “What is the big

out a quiet sigh but

as can be. He waved a hand at the untouched breakfast

“Dion de

in.”

Say what now?

her food? Earlier, he had practically put up a “no Hadley allowed” sign around the

clocked Hadley’s hesitation and read her mind like a book.

on the words. “Look, earlier? That was

floor. Eric, of all people, apologizing? She had to be dreaming. In all the time she had known him, this

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

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

out an apology, and she

dropping to subzero. “Oh, so you’ll scarf down whatever Marshall

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

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32 What is Wrong With Him

spat out his

earlier, huh? What’s the deal–are you

blinked, completely

he even

Eric wasn’t letting up.

wild tempest churning beneath the

think about it! Setting aside the fact that everyone in this town knows your name for all the wrong reasons, you’re a divorcee with a rap sheet of bad vibes. You’ve got no shot with any of Srixby’s big

without a word, her initial stun giving way as the color bled from

knife. “Talk about reaching for the

Hadley’s whole frame locked up, shaking like a leaf caught

had she ever fallen for a guy this rotten?

faint but sharp enough to cut glass.

your own brother’s woman? Is there a soul in Srixby who hasn’t heard about that dirty little secret of

bomb, leaving a thick,

clenched tight, his glare turning icy and downright sinister as it swallowed Hadley whole. “Hadley!”

he could blow his top, Hadley spun on her heel, snatched her backpack

out the door.

his lips pressed into a thin, furious line. “I shouldn’t