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.

earth was she supposed to find

time to visit Nyla at the sanatorium.

Nyla was

voice, and a touch of color

“Nyla.”

Hadley stepped inside, she noticed another

been their first encounter since that

“Come, sit.”

gentle smile gracing her lips. “I am feeling much better. Before you know it, I will be back home. You have

“I am fine…”

you!” Nyla gave her a scrutinizing once–over. “You’ve only been back in Srixby for what–a few weeks? And you’ve already shrunk to half your

who had been silent, flicked

mind wandered to her cramped little place on West Twelfth Alley. No matter how many times he thought about it, he couldn’t make sense of it.

dry chuckle slipped

right,” Eric mused bitterly. She had

you laughing

ears caught him

his throat awkwardly.

him. “Before you

stay, visitors had showered

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

“Nyla, I do not need them.”

for you. Take them.”

to hear otherwise. “I chose things that will do you good–food, daily necessities. Do not

still lived

more properties than he needed, so if anyone had to move after the separation, it certainly

have been

that declining too forcefully might tip Nyla off. With a reluctant nod, she relented. “Thank you. I

take them, then.”

like

with a glare. “Did you hear what I just

lost

her words,

no effort to hide. “No need to fret, Grandma. I will make sure both she and the

Is that enough?”

sneered. Did Hadley really care about

Eric rose to

each item a small

Eric at the wheel and Hadley nestled in

the car rolled to

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

stray lock of

darkened

on carrying

and up the

think he was just a

his inner turmoil, Hadley bent down to grab the items.