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

Chapter 165 I’ll Treat You

Right

“Whoa!”

Eric barely dodged her kick, missing a painful hit by inches. Moving fast, he caught Hadley’s ankle in his palm.

He let out a breathless chuckle. “Come on, get up. Did you forget we came here for the sunrise?”

“Nope. Not happening.”

Hadley stayed put, lazily waving a hand without opening her eyes. “I don’t feel like seeing it.”

Eric stared at her, baffled. Seriously?

If she skipped the sunrise, she’d never let him hear the end of it later.

He scooped Hadley up, blanket and all, and carried her onto the deck, settling her onto a lounge chair with careful ease.

With all the movement, sleep was officially off the table.

She yawned, one after another, her eyes watering from the stretch.

“That tired, huh?” Eric sat beside her, tugging the blanket snug around her shoulders.

The sea breeze had a sharp bite, and he wasn’t about to let her freeze.

“Yeah.” She nodded, still not seeing the hype around waking up at the crack of dawn.

“Just wait a second.”

Eric got up and disappeared into the cabin.

When he returned, he held something out to her. “Here.”

“What is it?” Hadley took it, eyeing the object in her hands–a warm, steamed corn on the cob.

“Go on, eat.” Eric grinned. “I promise it won’t make you gain weight.”

Then, he pressed a paper cup against her cheek. “And here’s some hot black coffee–great for burning calories and fighting puffiness.”

Hadley froze.

She stared at him like he was a stranger.

This side of him felt unfamiliar–almost unreal, like she’d stepped into a dream.

No.

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< Chapter 165 П Treat You Right

Hadley gave a small shake of her head. Even in her dreams, he had never treated her like this.

“What?”

a little self–conscious. “Do

She shook her head, a quiet laugh slipping

“Touched?”

tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear before resting his forehead against hers.

jerk before. But from now on, I’ll

words hit deep.

Hadley blinked, dazed,

she shoved him back, eyes wide with excitement. “Look!

sky, golden light stretched outward, painting the world in warmth. The sun, bold and brilliant,

that, Hadley was wide

in her eyes, catching

“It’s beautiful, right?”

sunrise, lost in its glow–while Eric only

moment, she finally understood the

knew you’d like it.”

as she turned to the person beside

this was what he was like when he let someone in.

had planned everything so carefully–waking up early

she had never experienced when she was his wife. But today, she finally

the warm corn

entrance of Mayfield Road.

“Okay.”

of heading inside, she pulled out her phone, booked a ride, and made her way to

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165 I’ll

“Dr. Torres.”

new attending

Hadley pulled out a small vial and handed it to him. “Please, help me.”

before taking it. “Alright. Leave it to me.”

private tests like this wasn’t allowed. But with Mathias and Colleen pulling strings, he didn’t

urgent–please get it to me ASAP,” Hadley urged, her voice steady but

to

her a firm nod. “I’ll send it to the lab right away and have them

Hadley

she got the results that same evening–just after her performance.

The medical jargon blurred together,

gripping her

partly expected this.

Eric were Joy’s parents–the ones who had given her life once. But now, when she needed them most, they

unshed tears faded. Only when she was sure she had a grip on herself did she finally open them, her gaze sharp and

was only one choice left.

It was a risk, a dangerous bet, but she was ready to

to

to the

barely looked at her, already assuming why she

you want

that’s not why

her head, sitting straighter, tension

a deep breath. “Dr. Perkins, I’m here for the treatment.”

stilled, finally looking up. “You’ve