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

13:46

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.”

with conviction,

what I’m doing. I don’t need my family’s wealth to live well. I won’t give up on myself, and I won’t give

respond, but

hand, pressing the bag

catch,” he said, his voice steady but tinged with something deeper. “I’ll see you when

back.”

a lopsided smile, one

“This isn’t goodbye.”

with a final glance, he

of it, so small yet so heavy, sent a sharp

everything, yet he carried himself

moment, Hadley found herself understanding Denver’s mother more and mo

ow could

by and watch her exceptional son be dragged down by someone like

remnants of her stage makeup. Her fingers brushed against the pearl hair

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key on the Mury

the green

way bar to tipin shaven won the phone yout

want to

the

way of

pew tightened she “sation, take me to

“Yes, My Flyn

need these datason,

at the studio,

confused, What did he mean te was

tethered her things and

you these past few days, 1 can go home

“What do you

come to me.”

his car, his gaze fixed on her as if he had

exhaled. “I’ll see

smirked, “See

over to Eric, slightly breathless, wasting no

I

drew together, his tone

come here to collect money from

guard. If that wasn’t why he was

“Oh…”

beat passed before realization

To you, this hair tie might be nothing. But to

“Wait…”

“Hold on–you think I bought it on a whim?”

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<

hesitated. “Wasn’t

bitter laugh escaped his

A whim.”

What had he been

feared the worst–that she wanted

was

it just for her. That he had held her old, worn hair tie in his

ridiculous he must have looked–chasing after a detail so small, putting thought into

was more pathetic

saw his feelings to begin with.

watching the way his expression shifted–anger, frustration, something deeper beneath it all.

“Eric?”