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?”

scoffed at

was ridiculous. Two people with their own pasts, their own unspoken wounds? They weren’t built

swallowed the words. Arguing wouldn’t change anything.

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

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

Eric’s voice came out

more. His hands clenched around the wheel as if trying to steady himself, trying to hold onto something solid. “We’ve been through a failed

Hadley barely reacted.

she offered, as if dismissing the weight of

serious. If it stops working, we walk away. No mess, no drama. So, do you

sat frozen, blindsided.

last night, he had been filled with anticipation, unable to

shifted–he hadn’t expected her to treat this relationship so lightly, like

between disappointment and inevitability. “Fine. Let’s pretend this conversation never

out, Eric leaned over, his hand

*Don’t go!”

to let go of.

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Least,

thick with unspoken thoughts. He agreed? So he really was thinking the same way–just going along with the moment, taking things as they

played on her lips as she turned back to

“Deal.”

think this

laugh, shaking

brought it to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss against her

skin.

sigh, he murmured,

yet. But that was fine. Time would prove everything.

now, at least, she

it was no

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

wave.

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

against a nearby trash can, extinguishing it. “Not a

don’t like the smell,” she

as if expelling the last traces of nicotine

the

eyed him, wary but intrigued. “Where are we

maintain her figure for work–strict discipline was

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

considered her

she

drive was quiet, and soon, the urban glow faded,

“We’re here.”

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163 At Least,

open

the view. Were they going

he said easily.

dock toward a sleek yacht

and Barrie–already lounging on