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

Chapter 163 At Least, She’s His Now

As the car approached the dance studio, Hadley suddenly broke the silence. “Pull over up ahead. We need to

talk.”

“Alright.”

Eric flicked his gaze toward her, sensing the weight in her voice. Without hesitation, he nodded and steered the car to a gentle stop by the roadside. Shifting slightly in his seat, he studied her with cautious curiosity.

“What’s on your mind?”

Was she having second thoughts?

A flicker of doubt crossed Hadley’s face before she finally spoke. “You told your grandmother about us way too soon. That wasn’t the right call.”

Eric’s jaw tightened, his confidence faltering for a moment.

“Why not?” His voice was steady, but a hint of defensiveness crept in. “We’ve already made our choice, haven’t we? It’s only natural that our families would find out eventually.”

Hadley met his gaze, her expression firm. “That’s not necessarily how it works.”

Hadley’s lips curled into a faint smile, laced with a hint of mockery. “If you’d kept quiet, we might’ve broken up without her ever knowing.”

Broken up?

Eric’s stomach twisted. This was getting out of hand.

He inhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay composed. “Alright, maybe I jumped the gun. But can we not talk about breaking up when we’ve barely even started?”

Hadley arched a brow, almost amused by his reaction.

“But eventually… we’ll go our separate ways, won’t we?”

She really thought that?

Eric’s chest tightened, his mind reeling. Was that how people approached relationships now? Like an expiration date was already stamped on them? Wasn’t the whole point of being together to build toward something fasting–marriage, family, a future?

“No…” His voice came out quieter than he intended, confusion flickering in his eyes.

“Is that really how you see this? Just something temporary?”

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Chapter 163 At Least. She’s His Now

Hadley held his gare, unwavering.

“Yes. That’s exactly what I wanted to make clear. We can be together, but that’s it. No expectations. If it stops working, we walk away. Simple.”

Bal That easy?

Eric buffed a quiet laugh, though there was no humor in it. Unbelievable! They had barely begun, and she was already planning for the end.

Pushing down the irritation prickling at his skin, he asked, “And what if things do work out?”

at his words.

Two people with their own pasts, their own

swallowed the words. Arguing wouldn’t change

a brow, her voice calm but firm. “We’re in this as equals, Eric. If

in his jaw, the way his grip on the steering wheel tightened. With a light shrug, she added, “Of course, if you lose interest first, you can

Eric’s voice came out sharp,

“We’ve been through

Hadley barely reacted.

“Uh–huh” was all she offered, as if dismissing the weight of his

“Look, we’re just seeing each other–nothing serious. If it stops working, we walk away. No mess, no drama. So, do you agree or not? If you do, we move forward. If not, let’s forget this ever happened.”

frozen,

been filled with anticipation, unable to

of minutes, the air had shifted–he hadn’t expected her to treat this relationship so lightly,

between disappointment and inevitability.

out, Eric leaned over, his hand closing around her wrist.

*Don’t go!”

of her scent–something familiar, something he wasn’t ready to let go of. Frustrated but helpless against her, he muttered, “Fine. Have it

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paused, the stillness between them thick with unspoken thoughts. He agreed? So he really was thinking the same way–just going along with the moment, taking

played on her lips as she turned back to

“Deal.”

Did she think this was some

let out a quiet, breathless laugh, shaking

shaking it, he brought it to

skin.

sigh, he murmured, “Hadley…”

didn’t trust him–not yet. But that was

least,

after the performance wrapped up, it was no surprise to find Eric

been there for a while, leaning against his car, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. The streetlights cast long shadows, and when he

wave.

knitting together as she lifted a hand to block the drifting

and, without a word, pressed the cigarette against a nearby trash

the smell,”

the side, as if expelling the last traces

that, he pulled open the

we

had to maintain her figure

a hand on the roof of the car, smirking. “Relax.

considered her

the nature of their arrangement, playing coy felt pointless. Besides, she preferred

slid into the passenger seat. The drive was quiet, and soon, the urban glow faded, replaced by the

“We’re here.”

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Least, She’s

to open the door for her. “After

in the view. Were they going out to

on,” he said easily.

sleek yacht bobbing under the moonlight. “They’re all

Hadley spotted two familiar faces–Marshall and