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

“What?”

face, looking a little self–conscious. “Do I

her head, a quiet laugh slipping out. “I’m just… a little

“Touched?”

away. He lowered his head, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her

now on, I’ll treat you right. Okay?”

hit deep.

Hadley blinked, dazed,

wide with excitement.

horizon, where the sea kissed the sky, golden light stretched outward, painting the world in warmth. The sun, bold and brilliant, began its slow ascent.

Hadley was

catching on tiny

“It’s beautiful, right?”

its glow–while Eric only looked at

her focus unwavering And in that moment, she finally understood the quiet romance of

knew you’d like it.”

as she turned to the person beside

like when he let someone

so carefully–waking up

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

self–mocking smile, biting into the warm

off the yacht, Eric drove her back to the entrance of Mayfield Road. “Get some rest when you get home,” he said.

“Okay.”

she

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165 I’ll

“Dr. Torres.”

attending physician–Mathias‘ friend, Colden

pulled out a small vial and handed it to

it. “Alright.

wasn’t allowed. But with Mathias and Colleen

get it to me ASAP,” Hadley urged, her

to stress.”

“I’ll send it to the lab right away and have them fast–track the results. I’ll update you as

much, Dr. Torres,” Hadley said, her gratitude running deep.

of Colden’s help, she got the results that same evening–just after her

with a message from him, an electronic report attached. The medical jargon blurred together, but Colden had already

her eyes, gripping her phone so tightly her fingers ached.

partly expected this.

ones who had given her life once. But

her eyes shut, forcing herself to breathe until the ache in her chest dulled and the burn of unshed tears faded. Only when she was

was only one choice left.

coming–had prepared for it. It was a risk, a dangerous bet, but she was ready

couldn’t afford to

to the clinic Colleen

already assuming why

do you want this

why I came…”

tension tightening every inch of her

breath. “Dr. Perkins,

up. “You’ve made up your