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.

do whatever you want.”

motion, Eric yanked his hand away from her and turned on his heel, his expression hard as

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

be a damn fool if I

corner of the alley, something tugged at

still crouched, scouring the ground under the

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

edges.

smile tugged at

words echoing in his mind

grip on the tiny ring tightened, the metal digging

look, Eric spun on his heel, yanked

voice came through, crisp and

gave his

responded, his tone businesslike.

was divorced, but the man also had a son

be

hadn’t found

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

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

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ess woman

distance between them.

time before they’d have

up at Galant again one evening.

soon as Eric entered, Lennon was notified and

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

but

now?”

froze for a moment before awkwardly chuckling. “Of course not.

“Great.”

casually, he asked, “Does

heart sank. So Eric was still fixated on Hadley… This was bad

Lennon said, his voice

see Hadley right then and there. What was he supposed to do in

to Lennon’s surprise, Eric just waved

flooding him as

What was Eric up to? He asked about Hadley and then just dropped it?

interested in

make sense of Eric’s intentions. Shaking his head, he walked

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

Hadley froze, a frown tugging

here again? What was he after

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

be careful.”

“Got it.”

weight of the situation pressing down on

go on stage.

Everything seemed normal.

she always did, moving through her set with ease. It all went smoothly, until she finished and made her way back to the dressing room, wiping the

Eric was

all, he used to frequent

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But even from inside the

it be Eric?

voice that cut

her fingers moving faster than usual, and

little vixen apart today!” A

high–pitched, nearly

can’t go in there!” someone