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

Chapter 46 He Just Got The Wrong Person

As the car moved down the road, Eric kept stealing glances at Hadley beside him.

“You alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Hadley gave a small nod, though her body language told a different story. Her grip on her backpack was rigid, fingers locked around the straps like she was holding on for dear life.

Eric didn’t miss the way Hadley clung to her bag, her fingers curled tightly around the straps. His brow knit together.

There was no mistaking it–she was still shaken from what had happened.

The thought of that middle–aged man made irritation flare inside him. “Who the hell was that guy? What was his problem?”

No matter what excuse that man had, Eric wasn’t the type to let someone lay a hand on his family and get away with it.

“I’ve never seen him before,” Hadley said with a small shake of her head after a brief silence. “He must have confused me with someone else.”

“Really?” Eric’s brows knit together as he processed that. Was that really all there was to it?

Something about that man’s behavior didn’t sit right with him. It hadn’t felt like a simple misunderstanding

“Yeah, that’s what happened,” Hadley confirmed with a decisive nod. “I tried explaining, but he wouldn’t listen. Then he started grabbing me…”

Eric let out a low grunt, accepting her explanation. “What a lunatic!”

But if Hadley had no idea who the guy was, that meant Eric had no way of tracking him down.

Eric frowned, realizing too late that he hadn’t pressed for more details when he had the chance.

“You know…” Eric began, still unsettled by everything that had happened, “What would you have done if I hadn’t shown up?”

Hadley turned to him, the question catching her off guard. Uncertainty flickered in her gaze.

“Unbelievable,” Eric muttered, exhaling sharply before shaking his head. “You were in a crowded area. Why didn’t you scream? Someone would’ve helped you!”

It should’ve been the first thing she thought to do, and yet she hadn’t How could she be so careless about her

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< Chapter 46 He Just Got The Wrong Person

own safety?.

Hadley nodded, taking in what he said. “Alright, I’ll keep that in mind next time

Neither of them spoke after that. The conversation faded, leafing the car in allence

Eric sat there, his grip tightening slightly on the steering wheel The urge to ask why she reacted so strongly to being touched weighed on his mind, but for some reason, the words refused to come out

He pulled up near the entrance of West Twelfth Alley and brought the car to a smooth stop

him with a polite smile.

Eric responded

pushed the door open and climbed out, adjusting her backpack as she moved in the process, something slipped

her, picking up

A hamburger.

offering a sheepish grin. It’s well–packaged. No smell,

What?

at Hadley, “You actually think I’d care if my car smelled like a hamburger?”

Hadley gave a firm nod. Wouldn’t

forgotten how, on the first day she returned, she’d made noodles at his kitchen, and Eric had grumbled about

hadn’t forgotten either.

had

“No!”

back, but there was more defensiveness in his tone than conviction. “That was totally different! You’re

clear,” Hadley said with a

fine. No clue why he’s making such a big deal

Eric suddenly felt uneasy.

eaten yet? At this hour? And all she had was a single

her head. “I already had lunch just wanted a snack”

but his gaze fell on her backpack It was a flimsy one, the

T–shirt and cargo jeans, nothing special about

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you’re being generous. Call it

never really paid attention before, never looked too

been dressing like this ever since she

that she wanted to be independent

terms.

clear now–she meant

through Eric’s mind, Hadley

and gave him a quick wave. “Alright, I’m

“Yeah. See you.”

eyes following her as she walked off,

a nagging weight he couldn’t shake. He didn’t know what to call it, but it lingered, gnawing at him

fell, Srixby was pulsing with its

was bursting at the seams.

was the long–awaited grand finale of

finals even began, the club was packed wall–to–wall. Security had to turn people away

competitor gave it their all, but when it was over, there was

“S! Dance Queen!”

“S! Dance Queen!”

“S! Dance Queen!”

the club, the electricity in the air still buzzing as Hadley slipped backstage. Even with the walls between her and the audience, their cheers still rang loud in her ears.

had seen this coming, and watching it unfold exactly as he expected only made

predicted was that Eric

his temples. “Tsk.

he hasn’t been around for days. That night might’ve

taken aback. “Wait, seriously?”

sent all that, didn’t he?” “Sure, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s nowhere to be seen tonight,” Hadley pointed out, keeping her tone even. “So

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