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

Chapter 61 Shameless

Woman

What?

Eric’s anger burned hotter, his eyes flashing as he tried to process Hadley’s defiance.

She actually thought he was overstepping? It was absurd. People always come to him for help. No one had ever

dared speak to him this way before.

“Hadley, you-”

“Go!” Hadley snapped, cutting him off, her voice laced with frustration.

She had no time for this. The ring. The one Eric had carelessly tossed away, a symbol of Duran’s promise. She

had to find it, and fast.

Without another word, Hadley spun around and ran toward the spot where Eric had thrown the ring. Under the dim streetlights, she crouched low to the ground, her fingers trembling as she searched the pavement,

determined to find it no matter what.

The alley was dim, the faint glow of the streetlights doing little to illuminate the cracked pavement. Hadley’s hands shook as she searched the ground, the darkness swallowing up every inch she covered.

Frantic, she yanked out her phone, flicking on the flashlight. The beam cut through the black, but it only highlighted how small and insignificant the ring seemed in the vast emptiness of the alley. How could she even

find it?

A quiet, desperate whisper slipped from her lips. “Please, please…”

She didn’t know who she was asking, but she needed to find it. She had to.

What if Duran found out? What if he knew she’d lost his gift the moment she turned her back? The thought clenched her chest. She couldn’t let that happen.

Across the street, Eric watched, his eyes narrowing as he observed Hadley kneeling in the dim light. His chest burned, a cold, simmering anger building inside him, spreading like wildfire, choking everything else

Did she really care that much about that ring from Duran?

“Hadley!”

Eric stormed over, his grip tight on her shoulder, yanking her back with a force that made her stagger. “Stop looking! Do you hear me?”

“Let go!”

Hadley whipped her head up, her face flushed with anger and frustration. Her eyes were red, the weight of

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everything crashing down on her. “Eric, don’t push me… I’m starting to hate you more every day!”

She just said she hated him.

The words hit Eric like a slap.

He froze, his chest tightening. “You hate me?”

“Yes!” Hadley snapped, her voice cracking with raw emotion. “When I was younger, I couldn’t leave you alone. That was my mistake! I’ve already paid the price for being so foolish. Please, Eric, just let me go.”

Eric let out a bitter laugh, disbelief flashing across his face.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered, his gaze cold and cutting.

Fine, do whatever you

away from her and turned on his heel, his expression

so set on degrading herself and chasing after that old

be a damn fool if

corner of the alley, something tugged at him, forcing him to glance back.

crouched, scouring the ground under the dim light, determined but helpless.

of his wrist, Eric pulled the diamond ring from his pocket, his fingers curling around its cold, sharp

edges.

smile tugged

he thought, the words echoing

the metal digging into

on his heel, yanked out his phone, and

came through, crisp and

gave his order. “Leak

his tone businesslike.

was divorced, but the man also had a son and a daughter, both adults. The

be perfect.

hadn’t found the ring.

and worry gnawed at her. She couldn’t stop thinking about what Duran might say when they met again and she didn’t have the ring on her finger–how would she explain losing something so precious that he’d just

was preoccupied with other matters over the next few days. He didn’t show up at Galant, nor did he ask Hadley out. Their conversations remained confined to the phone,

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distance between them.

a matter of time before they’d have to face each other

up at Galant again one evening.

Eric entered, Lennon was

it’s been a while! What brings you here tonight?”

his eyes were anything but

now?”

a moment before awkwardly chuckling. “Of course

“Great.”

gave a slight nod, and then, almost casually, he asked, “Does she have a performance

Eric was still fixated on Hadley… This was bad news. Hadley

does,” Lennon said,

demand to see Hadley right then and there.

Eric just waved him

muttered, relief flooding him as he turned to leave.

sweat from his brow. What was Eric up to? He asked about Hadley and then just dropped it?

he still interested in her or not?

Shaking his head,

dressing room. “Eric’s here. He’s in his

froze, a frown tugging at her lips.

again? What was he after this

sighed, a mix of frustration and concern in his voice. “I don’t know what

be careful.”

“Got it.”

of the situation pressing down on

go on stage.

Everything seemed normal.

with ease. It all went smoothly, until she

was here

used to frequent

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But even from inside the dressing room, she could hear raised voices. It sounded like

it be Eric?

it wasn’t him. The voice that cut through the air was

usual, and then she pushed open the door to

going to tear that little vixen apart today!” A woman’s voice screeched.

high–pitched, nearly unbearable.

in