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

Chapter 99 Candied Hawthorns

“What else was I supposed to do?” Eric replied, his tone laced with a gentle helplessness, though the warmth simmering beneath it hinted at his quiet devotion. “Dancing is her passion. If she can’t twirl and sway, she is a bird with clipped wings. And if she must dance, doesn’t she deserve the cream of the crop–the finest stage to

shine on?”

It was hard to argue with that logic.

Nyla let out a soft sigh, her eyes sparkling with admiration. “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?” She squinted at Eric, a playful suspicion flickering in her gaze. “So, you’re truly head over heels for Hadley this time, huh?”

“Grandma,” Eric said, his brow furrowing in genuine bewilderment, “did you honestly think I was just playing

a game?”

Nyla exhaled a slow, measured breath and gave a small nod. “Fair enough. As long as you don’t break Hadley’s heart, I’ll keep my nose out of it. How you sweep her off her feet is your dance to choreograph.”

“Thank you, Grandma.” A faint smile tugged at Eric’s lips, softening his features. “I’m planning to wait until Hadley’s back, and then whisk her off to meet my brother.” His eyes shadowed with a fleeting gloom before he pressed on. “When Linda isn’t around.”

It was no secret that those two women mixed like oil and water.

“Smart move,” Nyla murmured, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial hush. “No matter how things unfold with Hadley, mind you keep your manners with Linda. She has weathered storms aplenty.”

Nyla sighed again, a wistful note threading through her words. “That child she had lost… It has always been a pebble in Linda’s shoe.”

The rest of them might overlook Hadley’s missteps, but Linda–being the one who had borne the brunt- couldn’t quite let bygones be bygones.

She swore she had moved on, but Eric could see the truth lurking in her eyes; resentment still smoldered beneath the surface.

“I get it, Grandma,” Eric replied, his face shadowing briefly. His voice held steady, firm as an oak. “Rest easy- I’ll handle it with care. Now, please, sip your milk before it turns to ice.”

“Very well.”

Beyond the door, Linda froze, her breath catching in her throat as she tiptoed away.

Her face drained of color, her thoughts swirling like leaves in a tempest.

14:23

<

So that was Eric’s grand scheme–blocking Hadley’s job prospects not out of spite, but to nudge her toward

Blanche’s dance troupe?

And now he was plotting to woo her?

Hadn’t he once vowed to despise her forever? Wasn’t it he who’d vowed, with fire in his veins, that forgiveness would never cross her threshold?

had the tides

everything gone

set out

been handed a spotlight role. Blanche had dragged her along mostly to get her feet wet–learning the ropes, meeting the crew, and soaking in the rhythm of the operation. Every detail, down to the train tickets, had been neatly tied up

plopped into her seat than

flashed across

her voice a curious lilt.

better than she could admit. “When do you roll in? I’ll send Sebastian to pick you up and bring

the office.”

The his office?!

crinkled. “Why?

dangling the mystery like a carrot. “Don’t fret, though. It’s good news, not a

by,” Hadley replied, her words polite, perhaps softened by gratitude for the dance gig Eric had paved the way for. “But no need to trouble Sebastian–I’ll

displeasure. “Why

of a peacock’s plume. I only

That made sense.

flying under the

from him before he tossed out. “Hadley, do I get a ‘good boy‘ when I actually benu an ear to you?”

absurd question was that?

14:23

O

<

99 Canded

guard, Hadley’s finger hit the

seatmate–a lithe fellow dancer–tilted her head, curiosity glinting in her eyes.

Hadley’s hand drifted to her cheek, puzzled.

said, gesturing vaguely. “Like a ghost just whispered in

into a faint,

those absurd words from Eric–didn’t it feel eerily close to

head as he stared at the silent

actually hung up

enough. He wasn’t even miffed–wouldn’t

into the sea of work awaiting

end before dusk–he was due to swing by his older brother’s place and carve out some time

secretarial office later, he caught the faint hum of chatter and the sight of the staff nibbling on their afternoon

on, only to pivot abruptly and double

mouth in a fluster

head in a nod, a rare smile tugging at his

gallery of wide–eyed spectators. The CEO–smiling

itching to wag. What was

taken a shine

herself couldn’t help but indulge a fleeting, fanciful thought.

wealthy, and the unspoken heartthrob of half the company.

fortune really favor her