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?”

0.0%

20:43

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.

ridiculous. Two people with their own pasts, their own unspoken

swallowed the words.

voice calm but firm. “We’re in this as equals, Eric. If one day I decide I’m done, I have every

of tension in his jaw, the way his grip on the steering wheel tightened. With a light shrug, she added, “Of

came out

steady himself, trying to hold onto something solid. “We’ve been through a failed marriage before–I get why you’re wary. But Hadley, what I

Hadley barely reacted.

all she offered, as if dismissing the weight

working, we walk away. No mess,

frozen,

last night, he had been filled with anticipation, unable to sleep from excitement.

her to treat this relationship so lightly,

said, lips curving in something between disappointment and inevitability. “Fine. Let’s pretend

could step out, Eric leaned over,

*Don’t go!”

let go of. Frustrated but helpless against her, he muttered,

20.1%

Least, She’s

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

lips as she turned back to face him, extending her

“Deal.”

this was some kind of business

out a quiet, breathless laugh,

took her hand, but instead of shaking it, he brought it to

skin.

he

yet. But that was fine. Time would prove

least, she was

up, it was no surprise

against his car, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. The streetlights cast

wave.

her brows knitting together as she lifted a hand to block the drifting

and, without a word, pressed the cigarette against a nearby trash can, extinguishing it.

smell,” she replied bluntly.

exhaled to the side, as if expelling the last traces of nicotine from his system. “I won’t smoke around

pulled open the car

him, wary but intrigued. “Where are we going?

figure for

hand on the roof of the car, smirking. “Relax. I promise you’d like this.”

her

their arrangement, playing coy felt pointless. Besides, she preferred when things moved forward rather

passenger seat. The drive was quiet, and soon, the urban glow

“We’re here.”

46.9%

20-42

163 At Least,

circling around to open the door for

slightly as she took in the

on,” he said easily.

a sleek yacht

two familiar faces–Marshall and