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

Chapter 156 Her Hopes

Were Shattered Into Pieces

Hadley, still frail and powerless to push back, merely let her eyelids drift shut, opting to tune Eric out entirely.

Was this her way of quietly digging in her heels?

Eric let out a wry, self–mocking smile. “Do you despise me?” he asked softly.

Of course, Hadley didn’t dignify that with a response, and he hadn’t truly expected her to.

“You’re well aware, more than anyone, that the mess we’re in today traces back to Wilma. I’m merely playing the hand I’ve been dealt. You and Denver would part ways one way or another tonight–Wilma would make sure of it. And trust me, had it not been for me, you would have been in a far worse state than you are now.” Hadley kept her eyes squeezed shut, her lashes trembling ever so slightly, her fists balled up tightly as she remained mute.

A soft sigh escaped Eric’s lips. “Just… get some rest.”

Gazing at Hadley’s defiant expression, he thought to himself, “What’s the use? There was no sense in debating this further. Why tangle with a woman whose heart was still mending?”

When Hadley stirred from her slumber, the room was empty.

When had Eric slipped away? She couldn’t quite pinpoint it. The drug had lulled her into a deep calm, and sleep had claimed her soon after.

Testing her limbs, she felt a renewed vigor.

With a stretch of her arms, she propped herself up and noticed her clothes neatly folded by the bedside.

Eric hadn’t taken liberties while she was unconscious. Not that she pegged him as a saint–far from it.

He simply wasn’t interested–that much she knew all too well.

Even during their marriage, he had shown no desire to touch her.

Rising to her feet and slipping into her clothes, her phone suddenly buzzed to life.

It was Blanche on the line.

“Hello, Ms. Nicolson.”

In the recent calamity, Blanche had been among the worst injured. Over the phone, she asked Hadley to come to the hospital.

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< Chapter 156 Her Hopes Were Shattered Into Pieces

“Of course, Ms. Nicolson.”

After hanging up, Hadley hastened to the hospital.

She would have gone regardless of Blanche’s request.

Many of her troupe colleagues had been hurt, and she wanted to see if she could lend a hand in any way.

“Ms. Nicolson.”

entered Blanche’s private room at

come in–take a

several other troupe members–dancers and department heads

to settle down. “Now that we’re all gathered, let’s keep this short and cut

heart of the discussion was the recent mishap.

severe ones to the lead dancers of two groups, which might force a

and sometimes we’re at the mercy of fate.” Her plan was to oversee initial treatments at the hospital before arranging a chartered flight back to Srixby. Once there, all the following performances would need to be rescheduled.

the details, divvying up responsibilities to ensure everything

your tasks diligently. While we’re still in Blathe, keep

“Yes, Ms. Nicolson.”

“Understood, Ms. Nicolson.”

phone from her pocket and discreetly jotted down her assigned duties. With the lead dancers sidelined by their injuries, she would not only perform in her

attention. The

breath to steady herself. She intended to check on Elissa next when her phone buzzed to

to confirm the date of Joy’s

as she answered.

came the reply. “Can you come

hospital!” Hadley let out a

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Hopes Were Shattered

ending the call, she quickened her steps toward Joy’s ward.

caught sight of Mathias. “Dr. Williams!” she called out.

on Mathias‘ face stopped her short. It wasn’t

her stride, her smile dimmed. “Apologies–I got carried away. I’ll keep my voice

replied, though his brow furrowed as he

“Of course.”

she hadn’t had the faintest inkling of the heartbreak awaiting

“Dr. Williams…”

She managed a frail smile, clinging

months ago, I’ve held onto the same hope as you–that she would pull through.”

eyes brimming with unshed tears. Her voice quivered as she spoke. “But…

etched with both helplessness and remorse. “The donor withdrew at the eleventh hour. It was

you for this possibility. It’s not the first time

like that, Hadley’s hopes were shattered into

“Dr. Williams!”

eyes shut for a brief moment before blurting out, “Who was the donor? Can you tell me? I need to speak with

spiraling thoughts. “You need to take a step back! That’s against the

even redder as the weight of his words

What would become of Joy?

let this break

was fine now, but

cure her, Joy would be tethered to endless hospital visits and treatments. At best, they could keep her

thread

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Her Hopes