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

Chapter 41 Like His Own

Sister

“What?” Both Eric and Hadley stopped in their tracks, uncertain.

What was Nyla implying?

“Why that look?” Nyla’s chuckle broke the tension as she addressed Eric.

Turning her attention to Hadley, she patted her hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry, dear. I’m just ensuri well–being.”

She then faced Eric again.

“You should know what I’m getting at, if you have any heart. Hadley has no one else. I’ve failed her before, so it’s my duty to see her settled before I can rest easy.”

“Nyla…” Hadley interjected with a shake of her head. “I can look after myself.”

But Nyla dismissed her concerns and continued to fix Eric with a stern look.

“I expect you to look after Hadley as if she were your own sister. I want her to be happy and well–cared for until she marries someone decent. Her well–being will reflect on you. Do you grasp my meaning?”

“I understand.” Eric acknowledged with a nod.

The message was unmistakable. Hadley, though not his wife anymore, was still his family.

“Do you get it?” Nyla asked, her tone sharpening as she scrutinized him.

Eric quickly reassured her. “I’ve got it. Don’t worry.”

“Good,” Nyla responded, though her gaze lingered on Eric, sensing something amiss. “What’s that look for? You

think I’m asking too much?”

“Not at all,” Eric responded hastily, shaking his head. A peculiar sensation washed over him, a mix of relief and

confusion.

“Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ve given my word, and I’ll look after her well… Consider Hadley as my sister now.”

At the mention of “sister,” Hadley subtly lowered her gaze, concealing a slight, scornful smile.

“Then it’s decided,” Nyla replied.

She dismissed him with a wave. “Off you go. Hadley will stay with me.”

“Okay, take good care, Grandma.”

With that, Eric departed, gently shutting the door behind him. As he left, he caught sight of Hadley offering

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slice

try–it’s

up. “Indeed, it’s as

stepping away as the door clicked shut, mulled over Hadley’s actions. Was

Nyla

assertions appeared sincere.

she really

days later.

when Hadley exited Galant. The sequence of

others much later. This night wasn’t the latest she had been held up; there

the bus stop, hoping

waited, no buses appeared. It

of town had many rental bikes available.

towards the nearest intersection, finding all the bikes stationed across the street.

for the green light, she noticed someone familiar at the same light. It was Eric, returning from a

and heading back to

a bit of alcohol; though not enough to be drunk, the lack of

seat, trying to

“Huh?”

of the blue, Sebastian gestured towards the window. “Mr. Flynn, isn’t

What?

sure enough, it was Hadley. He turned to Sebastian, impressed. “Your eyesight is truly remarkable, Sebastian. You always manage to find her

let out a

catches my eye first in any crowd. And look, she’s

think she’s doing out so late?”

have answers to that

an

her phone, scanned the

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Like His Own Sister

ever curious, asked loudly, “What could she possibly be doing

held back from suggesting

“Sebastian, follow her.” Startled, Sebastian

“Understood.”

on the gas and maintained

we

idea with a wave of his hand. “Keep the pace slow. Just

sure we don’t lose sight of

Sebastian was puzzled but didn’t press further. “Alright, understood.”

an expert driver himself, Sebastian found

careful distance, tracking Hadley to Mayfield Road, where Eric had previously

housed several

Hadley suddenly veered off, heading in a new

er up.

they delved deeper, the neighborhood’s decline was stark. The surroundings grew increasingly

curiosity, asked, “What could she possibly be doing in such a place? Does

would she visit at

idea of Hadley residing here also