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

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Chapter 137 Never Saw His Feelings

Elises printed at the pearle adorning the hate the “This peate we of que high quality, but for a bar te, it’s a

fle on the small sida”

“How much do you think this would coet?” Hartley sket

Elises did a quick estimate. For these few, the market price would ently be over a thousand, at the very least”

expressiosetiad取恵siercing. Catching the shift in Hadley’s expression, the tilted her head is orosity. “Wat–you d’t buy this hair te yourself?”

Hadley shook her head. “No.”

She could never justify spending that Kind of money on herself if she had knows how excunqgent End’s gift was, she would have never accepted it.

Each evening before their performance, the dance troupe members would have an early meal

Before their busy evening started, Hadley and Elissa took a quick detour to the commercial street beside the studio to grab a bite.

On their way back, a familiar figure came into view under the glow of a streetlamp

Denver stood there, tall and lean, a bag in his hand, his gaze fixed expectantly on Hadley as she slowly *approached.

Elissa stole a glance at Hadley before tactfully excusing herself. I’ll head in first.”

“Okay,”

With no way to avoid the encounter, Hadley came to a stop in front of Denver, her brows knitting slightly. “You….”

“Here.”

Before she could finish, Denver raised the bag in his hand–yet again filled with desserts from Red Shell Bistro. Hadley didn’t reach for it, instead sighing in exasperation. “Denver, do you really want me to bec I can’t stand?”

“Please don’t be upset,” Denver said gently, watching her with quiet caution. “I just wanted to see you.”

omeone

“Denver…”

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“I’m leaving Srixby. Tonight.” Before she could say anything else before she could cut him down with another cold remark–Denver hurriedly spoke again. “I won’t be able to see you every day anymore.”

What? Hadley’s breath caught. Her mind reeled at his words.

“What do you mean? Where are you going?”

Denver caught the flicker of concern in Hadley’s eyes and smiled reassuringly. I’ve found a job. A friend of mine started a company, and I’ll be joining as a technical partner.”

Without the support of his family, all he had left was his own skills.

“It’s a small company, still in its early days, with only a handful of employees,” he explained. “There’s a lot to do, and I have to go to Tidebourne to meet with two of our potential partners.”

Hadley blinked, momentarily stunned.

She hadn’t expected him to act so quickly.

A young man who had grown up in luxury, now navigating a life stripped of privilege–yet he hadn’t wasted a moment on self–pity.

Living in a cramped, old apartment, he had never once blamed her. Instead, he had quietly pressed forward, determined to carve out his own path.

“Hadley.”

eyes shone with conviction,

I’m doing. I don’t need my family’s wealth to live well. I won’t give up

lips to respond, but no words came.

you.” Denver took Hadley’s hand, pressing the

steady but tinged with something deeper. “I’ll see you when

back.”

lopsided smile, one that held no

“This isn’t goodbye.”

final glance, he turned and walked away.

weight of it, so small yet so heavy, sent a sharp ache through her

had lost everything, yet he carried himself with grace,

moment, Hadley found herself understanding Denver’s mother more

ow could

by and watch her exceptional son be dragged down by

the performance came to an end, Hadley sat before the mirror, wiping away the remnants of her stage makeup. Her fingers

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or key on the

more ad the green pay the

bar to tipin shaven won the phone yout de grubs on the

did Malay sexly want

the

ou owed as her way of drawing boundary of turning

“sation, take me to

“Yes, My Flyn

need these datason, tre finally

at the studio, let’s talk in perso

he mean te was atost at the studio? Was he just passing through or what?

aside the thought, the tethered her things and be the studio

troubling you these past few

“What do you mean ‘troubling? if you ever

come to me.”

gate, Hadley’s steps slowed. Eric was there, leaning casually against his

“I’ll see

“See

Eric, slightly breathless, wasting no

I

drew together, his tone firm.

didn’t come here to collect money

guard. If that wasn’t why

“Oh…”

beat passed before

get it–you bought it on a whim. To you, this hair tie might be nothing.

“Wait…”

on–you think I bought it

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“Wasn’t

bitter laugh escaped

Sure. A whim.”

something twisted painfully. What had he been

she wanted to draw a line between them, that

was even

considered the possibility that he had chosen it just for her. That he had held her old,

small, putting thought into something she dismissed as

was more pathetic than rejection?

saw his

the way his expression shifted–anger, frustration,

“Eric?”