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.”

Blanche’s private room

in–take a

held several other troupe members–dancers and department heads among them.

that we’re all gathered, let’s keep

of the discussion was the

sustained, including severe ones to the lead dancers of two groups, which might force a halt to the tour.

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

up responsibilities

While we’re still in

“Yes, Ms. Nicolson.”

“Understood, Ms. Nicolson.”

the lead dancers sidelined by their injuries, she would not only perform in her own group but also

tasks awaited her attention.

out of the hospital room, Hadley drew in a deep breath to steady herself. She intended to check on Elissa

the date of Joy’s surgery,

brightened as she answered.

reply. “Can you come to the

at the hospital!” Hadley let out a

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Were Shattered Into

the call, she quickened her steps

down the corridor, she caught sight of Mathias. “Dr. Williams!” she

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

got carried away. I’ll

okay,” Mathias replied, though his brow furrowed as he motioned toward his office.

“Of course.”

moment, she hadn’t had the faintest inkling of

“Dr. Williams…”

color. She managed a frail smile, clinging to disbelief. “You’re pulling my leg,

six months ago, I’ve held onto the

eyes brimming with unshed tears. Her voice quivered as she spoke. “But… Isn’t there anything we can do?”

etched with both helplessness and remorse. “The donor

through his hair, frustration evident. “I should’ve prepared you

Hadley’s hopes were shattered into pieces.

“Dr. Williams!”

was the donor? Can you tell me? I need to speak with them–I’ll plead if I have to.”

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

place, her eyes growing even redder as the weight of his words sank

now? What would

of a mother’s anguish. “Don’t let this

fine now, but what about tomorrow?

her, Joy would be tethered to endless hospital visits and

what if that fragile thread of hope unraveled entirely?

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156 Her Hopes Were Shattered Into