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

Chapter 155 It’s Over

Eric exhaled a long, weary sigh before reaching out to help Hadley up. With gentle fingers, he brushed away the tears clinging to her cheeks.

His gaze lingered on the curve of her rounded shoulders, his throat tightening

“Sit here for a minute. I’ll grab you some clothes.”

He rose to his feet and strode toward the walk–in closet.

After a brief moment, he stood inside and asked, “Which side of the closet holds your clothes?”

When he didn’t receive an answer, Eric reached for a familiar piece he had seen her wear before and stepped

out

Suddenly, he heard something fall onto the floor with a loud thud.

“Hadley!”

Eric’s pulse slammed against his ribs. He was at her side in a heartbeat, gathering her up in his arms.

A deep furrow creased his brow. “What just happened? How did you fall?”

A beat passed, and an unsettling thought seized him. He couldn’t bring himself to believe it. “Did you do that on purpose?”

Hadley neither looked at him nor answered.

But what else could it be? The truth was written all over her–she had done this to herself.

“Why did you jump out of bed?”

Eric’s temper flared, rising like a storm he could no longer contain. His hands tightened around her shoulders, his grip just shy of punishing

“For what? To chase after Denver?”

Hadley’s swollen, tear–streaked eyes wavered, her lips trembling as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

Eric was livid.

“Why are you still chasing after him? Have you forgotten that he is now with his mother?!”

Eric felt a deep frustration at her lack of self–respect. “His mother has done nothing but hurt you, and yet you are still holding on? Do you really think there is hope? Are you so naive to believe that love is just about two people?”

Wilma despised Hadley–there was no doubt about that. And if she had been capable of harming Hadley once, what was stopping her from doing it again?

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“What about you?” Hadley lifted her tear–streaked face, her eyes burning with raw emotion. “What does any of this have to do with you? Why are you hurting me?”

“I…” Eric faltered, caught off guard.

“Speak!” Her voice cracked as she suddenly shouted at him. “I’m asking you a question!”

“Like I told you before. I want you!” Eric blurted out, his agitation spilling over: “I want you, Hadley!”

before, and he had forced himself

he realized he couldn’t really let her go.

lingered in the air, swallowed by the heavy silence that settled over the

locked, and Hadley’s expression twisted as if she had just

tears hadn’t even dried, yet a chuckle escaped her lips.

Why are you laughing?” Eric stiffened. A strange unease crawled

it obvious? It’s

in her eyes. “Tell me, Eric,

want me?”

“I…”

the question catching him off

never thought about that question before.

gaze piercing.

shook his head in frustration.

met his stare head–on. “Let

feelings for

rigid, and a strange tingling crept up

was that?

saying anything?” Hadley

“I…”

Hadley cut in before he

him, her clear eyes sharp enough

just like the law to you, aren’t they? For her,

stunned. What was Hadley

he was doing this

true!” Eric blurted, eager to

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scorn as she sneered. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? We have known each other for almost ten years, and you have

“You…!”

His grip tightened around her shoulders, his breath turning ragged with frustration. “Is this about Denver? Do you really like him that

firm and unshaken. “Denver is amazing. Why

his chest. For a split second, it felt like something. inside him cracked.

pulsed in his temple as he snapped, “Shut up! I don’t want to hear

couldn’t take it anymore.

“No!”

He respects and cherishes me. No one

him a glare filled with pure loathing as if

slammed her forehead into his. Completely unprepared,

let out a bitter laugh

phone was

she hadn’t fully recovered, she dropped to the floor and began crawling

rested.

Eric’s wary gaze

just dragged herself across the floor.