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.”

turned on his heel, his expression hard as stone,

she was so set on degrading herself and chasing after

“I’d be a damn fool if I let myself get involved

of the alley, something tugged at him, forcing

scouring the ground under the dim light,

diamond ring

edges.

smile tugged at his

find it,” he thought, the words echoing

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

another look, Eric spun on his heel, yanked out his phone, and dialed

Flynn,” Phillips‘ voice came through, crisp

voice was cold and precise as he gave his

his tone

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

would be perfect.

found the ring.

again and she didn’t have the ring

the next few days. He didn’t show up at Galant, nor

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ess woman

distance between them.

time before they’d have to

Eric showed up at Galant again one

as Eric entered, Lennon was notified and rushed to greet

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

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

now?”

“Of course not. I’m

“Great.”

nod, and then, almost casually, he

still fixated on Hadley… This was bad

she does,” Lennon said,

nodded quickly, his mind racing. He feared Eric would demand to see Hadley

just waved him off. “Alright, you

flooding him as he turned to

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

still interested in her

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

Lennon quietly slipped into the dressing room.

froze, a frown tugging at her lips.

again? What was he after this

concern in his voice. “I don’t know what he’s

be careful.”

“Got it.”

up, the weight of the situation pressing down on

go on stage.

Everything seemed normal.

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

was here for

all, he used to frequent

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

be Eric?

that cut through the air was sharp, unmistakably female.

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

that little vixen apart today!” A woman’s

high–pitched, nearly unbearable.

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