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?”

almost scoffed at his

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

the words. Arguing

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

tightened. With a light shrug, she added, “Of course, if you lose interest first,

Eric’s voice came out sharp,

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 word. I will treat

Hadley barely reacted.

offered, as

with a casual air, she continued, “Look, we’re just seeing each other–nothing serious. If it stops working, we walk away. No mess, no drama.

sat frozen,

had been filled with anticipation, unable to

expected her to treat this relationship so lightly, like it was a passing whim.

like it?” she said, lips curving in something between disappointment and inevitability. “Fine. Let’s

step out, Eric leaned over,

*Don’t go!”

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

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At Least, She’s His

agreed? So he really was

slow smile played on her lips as she turned back to face

“Deal.”

that? Did she think this was some kind of business arrangement?

out a quiet, breathless laugh, shaking

but instead of shaking it, he brought it to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss against

skin.

he

didn’t trust him–not yet. But that

least,

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

a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. The streetlights cast long shadows, and when he caught

wave.

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

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

like the smell,”

last traces of nicotine from his system. “I won’t

the car door. “Hop in.”

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

had to maintain her figure

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

considered her options.

pointless. Besides, she preferred when things moved forward rather than idling in

quiet, and soon, the urban glow faded, replaced by the

“We’re here.”

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163 At Least, She’s

circling around to open the

slightly as she took in the view. Were they going out to sea?

on,” he said

down the dock toward a sleek yacht

Hadley spotted two familiar faces–Marshall and Barrie–already lounging on