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

Chapter 53 Where Is He

Inside the private lounge, Hadley sat opposite the man, who had been watching her in silence from the

moment she arrived. His gaze never wavered, fixated on her as if searching for something.

“Hadley, this is already our third time crossing paths. That day at Kingsbridge–you were there to see your grandmother too, weren’t you? You had a mask on back then…”

Hadley didn’t let him finish. “That’s not why I came.” She kept her tone even but direct. “Let’s not waste time. You said you’d bring the money. Do you have it?”

The man gave a measured nod. “I do.”

His fingers tapped lightly against the table, but he made no effort to reach for it. “I’ll give it to you, but… it’s been years. You disappeared without a word, left the country, cut everyone off. How have you been? And you

and Eric-”

“Don’t.”

Her voice remained controlled, but there was no mistaking the edge behind it.

She met his eyes without hesitation. “Do you really think you should be asking me that?”

“I…” He faltered for a moment before regaining his voice. “Why not? Hadley, I still care about you. You and Eric

”

“Care?”

Hadley let out a short, bitter laugh. “Now you do? After all this time?”

There had been a point in her life when she needed help the most. Where was he then? Words of concern that only surfaced long after the damage had been done were meaningless.

The man sat in silence, his expression tense with something close to regret. “I won’t deny I let you down. But at least tell me this–why do you need that much money? What happened? Is Eric giving you trouble?”

He had seen them together not long ago. Eric had seemed protective, unwilling to let her go.

They hadn’t looked like a couple falling apart, but the fact remained–Hadley had been sent overseas and kept away for four years.

“Hadley, just tell me-”

She had no patience for this.

Hadley took a slow breath, steadying herself. “If I don’t explain, does that mean I’m not getting the money?”

“That’s not what I-”

A sudden, forceful pounding shook the door.

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Bang bang bang

Bang bang, bang

The forceful banging left no doubt that if they refused to open the door, whoever was outside was more than

willing to smash their way in.

“Open up!”

“Open the door!”

know you’re in there!”

What’s happening?

police

man across from her. His face had

from his seat, his breathing quick and uneven. Even if they had done nothing wrong, getting caught up in a police matter could easily spiral

a scandal.

more than anything, he couldn’t afford for his family to find

him. “How ridiculous!” she thought.

about caring for her, but now that things were about to get

“Hadley…”

“What’s the problem?”

arched a brow, her voice

aren’t we? We could just open the door and explain everything. There’s

His hesitation said it all.

sweat.” Her amusement faded as she turned toward the balcony. “If you don’t want to be seen, then

there.”

“Hadley-”

run dry. “Unless you’d rather stay? Because I’m about to open the door. Once they take you

heel and bolted toward the

He ran

out a

never needed

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53 Where

walked toward

“Hadley!”

happening

his eyes sent

she swore he looked like a man who had just caught his wife in bed with another

at the mess you’ve

lifted his hand in a sharp motion. The officers behind him rushed into

of the space. Nothing.

“No one’s here?”

“Just her?”

make sense.”

with disbelief. He didn’t trust a

stormed in and checked

face Hadley. “The man you were here with–where is he?”

with amusement. “What man?

accusations

“Hadley!”

waist without

“Ah!”

she struggled and then lost her balance, stumbling

firm, and his towering figure loomed over her, casting a

you here with?

lost color, and her lashes quivered slightly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

intensity that sent a chill down her spine. “Fine. Then answer

you been with another

thought she had

back, “And what if I have? What does that

the one asking the damn