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 his

people with their own pasts, their own unspoken wounds? They weren’t built for

she swallowed the words. Arguing wouldn’t

“We’re in this as equals, Eric. If one day I decide I’m

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

voice came out sharp,

around the wheel as if trying to 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 told my grandmother today… I meant every

Hadley barely reacted.

nonchalant “Uh–huh” was all she offered, as

No mess, no drama. So, do you

frozen,

he had been filled with anticipation, unable to sleep

matter of minutes, the air had shifted–he hadn’t expected her to treat

she said, lips curving in something between disappointment and inevitability. “Fine. Let’s pretend this conversation never

step out, Eric leaned over,

*Don’t go!”

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

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Least,

really was thinking

smile played on her lips as she

“Deal.”

was that? Did she think this was some

a quiet, breathless laugh, shaking his head in

instead of shaking it, he brought it to his lips,

skin.

a sigh, he murmured,

yet. But that

now, at least,

up, it was no surprise to

fingers. The streetlights cast long shadows, and when he caught sight of Hadley stepping out, he

wave.

a beat before walking over, her brows knitting together as she lifted a hand to block the drifting

a word, pressed the cigarette against a nearby trash can, extinguishing it. “Not a fan of smoke?”

don’t like the smell,” she replied bluntly.

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

he pulled open the car door. “Hop in.”

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

her figure for work–strict discipline was

Eric rested a hand on the roof of the car, smirking. “Relax. I promise you’d like

considered her options.

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

word, she slid into the passenger seat. The drive was quiet, and soon,

“We’re here.”

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163 At Least, She’s His frow

open the door for

as she took in the view. Were

he said easily.

the dock toward a sleek yacht

two familiar faces–Marshall and Barrie–already lounging on the deck, drinks