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…

away, but Denver had already read the thoughts flickering across her face.

name snapped her back to

Marcus Jordan.

she had. The son of basketball

had fallen for Larsa Pippen. His father’s friend’s ex–wife. A woman sixteen

a media wildfire when it surfaced–tabloids, speculation, endless chatter. Even now, people still whispered about them,

at Marcus and Larsa. They didn’t let the idea of being a ‘perfect match‘ dictate their choices. So why should

words tangled before they could

continued, his voice steady yet warm. “Whether two people ‘fit‘ isn’t what determines if they should be together. What really matters is whether they love

of expectation or demand. “But just so you know–1 helped you tonight because I wanted to. Not because I expect anything in return. I’d never twist it into some kind of bargaining chip.”

if he did… wouldn’t that make him no

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

Don’t push it away just because of

frustratingly clear–headed, so reckless in his

to

quieter now, more measured. “This isn’t some grand, romantic

“If I don’t even h courage to fight for the girl I like,

the

raised an eyebrow. “Besides… who’s to say how this story ends?”

lunch break, Hadley made her way to the hospital–the same one where

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106 Smile

her medication before.

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

he saw her, he asked, “Are you

“No.”

rather unexpectedly,

doctor studied her for a moment before motioning toward the chair. “Then what brings you here today?”

seat, her fingers curling in her lap. The

eased. As long as I’m not faced with aggression, my reactions aren’t as severe.

“Go on.”

“Alright.”

listened carefully before nodding. “From what you’re describing, it sounds like you’re making progress. Your body

added, “Have you considered therapy? It could help. Maybe even lead to a full

recovery.”

Therapy?

chest tightened. Psychological treatment–an expense she couldn’t

easy smile. “That won’t be necessary, but I

doctor met her gaze, unconvinced but not pushy. “If you ever change your mind, you know where to find

me.”

doctor. I

outside, the midday sun bore down on her,

meant peeling back layers of the past- digging

refused