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.

whatever you want.”

her and turned on his heel, his expression hard

so set on degrading herself and chasing after that old man, then so be it.

mind roared, “I’d be a damn fool

alley, something tugged at him, forcing him to

under the

the diamond ring from his pocket, his fingers curling around

edges.

cruel smile tugged at his

words echoing in

the tiny ring tightened, the metal digging into his palm until it almost hurt.

spun on his heel, yanked out

Phillips‘ voice came

and precise as he gave his order. “Leak Duran’s

Phillips responded, his tone businesslike.

that Duran was divorced, but the man also had a son and a

would be

found

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

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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ess woman

distance between them.

time before they’d have to

Eric showed up at Galant again

Lennon was

brings you here tonight?” Lennon asked, his voice

his eyes were anything but warm. “What, do I need to explain myself to you

now?”

moment before awkwardly chuckling. “Of course not.

“Great.”

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

bad news. Hadley

she does,” Lennon said, his voice

demand to see Hadley right then and there. What was

Lennon’s surprise, Eric just waved him off. “Alright,

relief flooding him

to? He asked about Hadley

still interested in her

couldn’t make sense of Eric’s intentions. Shaking his head, he walked

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

Hadley froze, a frown

here again? What was he after

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

be careful.”

“Got it.”

weight of the

go on stage.

Everything seemed normal.

all went smoothly, until she finished

figured Eric was here for business.

used to frequent

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

it be

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

fingers moving faster than usual, and then she pushed open the door to

that little vixen apart today!” A woman’s

high–pitched, nearly unbearable.

in there!” someone yelled.