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

Chapter 106 Smile For Him

Since Denver stubbornly refused to go to the hospital, Hadley had no choice but to stop by the pharmacy, pick up some medicine, and tend to his injuries herself.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked, still uneasy. “If you hurt something internally, it could be serious.”

“I’m fine,” Denver said to her with a grin–though with the bandage on the corner of his mouth, the expression looked more ridiculous than reassuring. He hesitated for a beat before adding, “I couldng beat Eric in a fight…. Does that make me useless?”

Hadley blinked, momentarily thrown off. Then–she laughed. Hard. “What kind of ridiculous logic is that?” she

teased, shaking her head. “Since when is fighting the measure of a great man?”

So… that wasn’t it?

Denver pressed his lips together, barely suppressing a chuckle. “Relax, I was just messing with you. No need to get philosophical.”

Hadley let out a soft sigh, but the weight in her chest remained. “I… I think I said too much back there without proper thinking. Denver, I…”

“I know-” Denver cut in before she could finish. “I know you don’t actually like me. And that’s okay–I never let myself believe otherwise.”

He met her gaze with quiet understanding, as if he had already made peace with the truth long before this

moment.

“But I do owe you an apology,” he continued. “I acted without your permission. That wasn’t my call to make. I hope you’re not upset.”

Upset? How could she be?

Hadley wasn’t the kind of person who accepted someone’s help only to turn around and blame them for it. That wasn’t who she was.

She shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “I’m not mad. I just…”

How was she supposed to explain something she barely understood herself?

“It’s alright.” Denver caught the hesitation in her voice but didn’t push. Instead, he added softly and with rare honesty, “I won’t pretend I did it just for you. I had my own reasons, too.”

Hadley blinked, momentarily thrown by his candor.

“Denver…” Her voice softened, almost hesitant. “I told you before… we’re not right for each other.”

“I remember you said that.” He spoke with a small smile, but there was curiosity in his eyes. “What I don’t understand is–why, exactly, are we not right for each other?”

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Wasn’t it obvious?

Hadley knew the answer all too well. Her tangled past. The weight of her mistakes. A failed marriage that still cast shadows. No powerful last name to protect her…

across her face. “Hadley, have

snapped her

Marcus Jordan.

son of basketball legend Michael Jordan–his name alone carried

understood exactly why Denver had brought him up. Because Marcus had fallen for Larsa Pippen. His father’s friend’s ex–wife. A woman

endless chatter. Even now, people still whispered about them, as

“Look at Marcus and Larsa. They didn’t let the idea of being

her mouth, but the words tangled before

“Whether two people ‘fit‘ isn’t what determines if they

pressed on. “I know this is one–sided right now. You don’t feel the same way, and that’s fine.” His tone was calm, free of expectation or demand. “But just so you

if he did… wouldn’t that make him no different from

let out a breath, rubbing the back of his neck. He wasn’t usually one for

help, Hadley, and I’m happy to help you. Don’t push it away just because of my feelings for

He was so frustratingly clear–headed, so reckless in his sincerity.

had to make

makes me sound cruel, but I’m not Larsa. And this?” Her voice was quieter now, more

unwavering, steady with conviction. “If I don’t even h courage to fight for the

the

raised an eyebrow. “Besides… who’s to say how this

made her way to the hospital–the same one where she’d picked

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106 Smile For Him

her medication

had been recommended by Colleen, which meant he was already somewhat familiar with her

as he saw her, he asked, “Are

“No.”

had ended with Duran rather unexpectedly, she

moment before motioning toward the

the seat, her fingers curling in her lap. The thoughts that had been circling in

feel like my symptoms have eased. As long as I’m not faced with aggression, my

“Go on.”

“Alright.”

like you’re making progress. Your body is learning when an

you considered therapy?

recovery.”

Therapy?

treatment–an expense she couldn’t even begin to afford.

forced an easy smile. “That won’t be necessary, but I appreciate it,

gaze, unconvinced but not pushy. “If you ever change your mind, you know

me.”

doctor. I appreciate it.”

stepped outside, the midday sun bore down on her, and

layers of the past- digging up wounds she had spent years trying to bury.

she refused to open. Not