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

away from her and turned on his heel, his expression hard as stone,

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

be a damn fool if I let

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

the ground under

a flick of his wrist, Eric pulled the diamond ring from his pocket, his fingers

edges.

cruel smile tugged at his lips.

never find it,” he thought, the words echoing in

the metal digging into his palm until

look, Eric spun on his heel, yanked out his phone,

voice came through, crisp and

voice was cold and precise as he gave his order. “Leak Duran’s little affair to his family.”

his tone

but the man also

would be

hadn’t found the ring.

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

next few days. He didn’t show up at Galant, nor did he ask Hadley out. Their conversations remained confined to the phone, keeping

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ess woman

distance between them.

time before they’d have to face each other again.

up at

was notified

Flynn, it’s been a while! What brings you here tonight?” Lennon asked, his voice

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

now?”

froze for a moment before awkwardly chuckling. “Of course not. I’m just glad to see you.”

“Great.”

gave a slight nod, and then, almost casually, he

Hadley… This was bad news. Hadley was already

she does,” Lennon said, his voice tight.

demand to see Hadley right then and there.

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

relief flooding him as he turned

wiped the sweat from his brow. What was Eric up to?

in her or

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

quietly slipped into the dressing room. “Eric’s here. He’s

Hadley froze, a frown tugging at her

was he after

concern in his voice. “I don’t

be careful.”

“Got it.”

stood up, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. It was time

go on stage.

Everything seemed normal.

ease. It all went smoothly, until she finished and made her way back to the dressing room, wiping the

was here

to

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the dressing room to change. But even from inside the dressing room, she could hear raised voices.

be

cut through the air was sharp, unmistakably

usual, and then she pushed open the door to step outside.

going to tear that little vixen apart

was high–pitched,

in there!” someone yelled.