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

with a polite

mention it,” Eric responded without a

out, adjusting her backpack as she moved in the process, something slipped free and landed on the

after her, picking

A hamburger.

bad,” Hadley hurriedly grabbed it, offering a sheepish grin. It’s

What?

“You actually think I’d care if my car smelled

Hadley gave a firm nod. Wouldn’t he, though?

day she returned, she’d made noodles at his kitchen, and Eric

forgotten either.

had no

“No!”

defensiveness in his tone than conviction. “That was totally different! You’re twisting things. Don’t go acting like 1

it, loud and clear,” Hadley said with

it’s fine. No clue why he’s making such

the hamburger back into her bag, and Eric suddenly felt uneasy. “Wait. Don’t tell me that’s all you’re eating for lunch.”

hadn’t eaten yet? At this hour? And

“I already had lunch just

backpack It was a flimsy

and cargo jeans, nothing special about the fabric or fit

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simple if you’re being generous. Call it run–down if you’re being honest,” Eric

paid attention before, never looked too closely at Hadley.

about it, she’d been dressing like this ever since she

was done being a burden, that she wanted to be independent and live on her own

terms.

it was clear now–she meant every

whatever was running through Eric’s mind, Hadley zipped up her backpack, slung

quick

“Yeah. See you.”

as she walked off, each

he couldn’t shake. He didn’t know what to

time night fell, Srixby was pulsing

bursting at

long–awaited grand finale of

the club was packed wall–to–wall. Security had to turn people away just to keep the crowd from spiraling out

when it was over, there was no doubt.

“S! Dance Queen!”

“S! Dance Queen!”

“S! Dance Queen!”

air still buzzing as Hadley slipped backstage. Even with the walls between

watching it unfold exactly as he expected only made

hadn’t predicted was that Eric wouldn’t be here to

temples. “Tsk. What a waste… Mr. Flynn didn’t even show up.”

for days. That night might’ve just been him talking big for

taken aback. “Wait, seriously?”

He 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 what now? I’m

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