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

Chapter 50 Hadley, Don’t

You Dare!

“Yes,”

Mathias didn’t dance around the truth. Over the years, he had witnessed Hadley’s struggles unfold right before

his eyes.

“Joy’s name finally made it onto the list!”

Hadley froze. For a moment, it was as if the world had stopped spinning, Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, their weight pressing against her resolve.

She clenched her fists, willing herself not to break. “Th–thank you, Dr. Williams.”

Emotion swelled in her chest, so vast that words felt like a foreign concept.

“Why are you thanking me?” Mathias chuckled.

“I hardly lifted a finger. You are the one who’s been running yourself ragged. Now, once the surgery is done, Joy will finally be free from this agony.”

“Yes… that is right.”

“Speaking of which,” Mathias added, his voice steady, “you’ll need to gather the surgery fees fast.”

Hadley’s heart lurched.

The corners of her mouth, which had barely begun to lift, flattened again. Of course–the cost. That enormous, suffocating weight still loomed over her.

“Roughly… how much?” she asked, her voice uneven.

“About five hundred thousand dollars,” Mathias answered without hesitation.

Five hundred thousand dollars!

She had braced herself for a hefty sum, had scrimped and saved every penny, but hearing the actual number still sent a chill down her spine.

Balancing meals on the table for herself and Joy had always been an uphill battle–one that felt endless. The monthly medical bills piled up like clockwork, as relentless as the tide.

Even with all her sacrifices, her savings were nothing more than a drop in the ocean.

Mathias knew bits and pieces of her financial struggles. “You better move quickly. The surgery could happen as soon as two months or stretch out to six. There’s no telling.”

19-29

As a doctor, his hands were tied beyond that.

“I understand,” Hadley murmured.

When the call ended, she found herself teetering on the edge of hope and despair.

Joy finally had a chance! A real chance at healing! But the money… Two months, six tops.

she supposed to find that kind of

hectic schedule, Hadley carved out time to visit Nyla at the sanatorium.

by day, Nyla was

in Nyla’s voice, and a touch of color had returned to her face.

“Nyla.”

stepped inside, she noticed another presence–Eric.

since that explosive argument at

“Come, sit.”

hand, a gentle smile gracing her lips. “I am feeling much better. Before you know it, I will be back home. You have been worrying yourself sick

“I am fine…”

a scrutinizing once–over. “You’ve only been back in Srixby for what–a few weeks? And you’ve already shrunk

who had been silent, flicked his gaze toward Hadley.

how many times he thought about it, he couldn’t make sense of it. Why did she insist on living

slipped past his lips.

right,” Eric mused bitterly. She

are you

caught him off

Eric hesitated, clearing his throat

pointed a firm finger at him. “Before you leave, take some of these

stay, visitors had showered

the seams with them. She had already shared plenty with the doctors and nurses, but there was still

her head. “Nyla, I

for you. Take them.”

you good–food, daily necessities. Do not let them go to waste.

her mind, Hadley still lived at Silver

than he needed, so if anyone

have been her.

Nyla off. With a reluctant nod, she relented. “Thank

take them,

are you acting like we are

“Did you hear what I just said? Why are you so quiet all of

lost your

her words, his voice laced with a

need to fret, Grandma. I will make sure both

Is that enough?”

surface, Eric sneered. Did Hadley

Eric rose to leave together.

the trunk of Eric’s car, each item a small weight added to a growing burden.

they drove to West Twelfth Alley, Eric at the wheel and Hadley nestled in the back seat.

reached the alley entrance, the car rolled

Eric silently unloaded the items from the trunk, setting them down on the

lock of hair behind

mood darkened

on carrying

long stretch and up the stairs? It was impossible to do in one trip.

she really think he was just a useless

inner turmoil, Hadley bent down