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?”

rubbed his face, looking a little self–conscious. “Do I have something on

a quiet laugh slipping out. “I’m just…

“Touched?”

his head, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear before resting his forehead

now

words hit

Hadley blinked, dazed,

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

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

that, Hadley was

danced in her eyes, catching on tiny flecks

“It’s beautiful, right?”

sunrise, lost in its glow–while Eric only looked at

that moment, she finally understood the quiet romance of watching a

knew you’d like

as she turned

was like when he let someone in.

so carefully–waking up

experienced when she was his wife. But today, she

self–mocking smile, biting into the warm corn before taking a

stepping off the yacht, Eric drove her back to the entrance of Mayfield Road. “Get

“Okay.”

street. But instead of heading inside, she pulled out her phone, booked a ride, and made her

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I’ll Treat

“Dr. Torres.”

attending physician–Mathias‘

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

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

But with Mathias and Colleen pulling strings, he

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

to

“I’ll send it to the lab right away and have

so much, Dr. Torres,” Hadley said,

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

electronic report attached. The medical jargon blurred together, but Colden had already summed

breath hitched. She shut her eyes, gripping her phone so tightly

had partly expected this.

who had given her life once. But now, when she needed them most, they couldn’t

in her chest dulled and the burn of unshed tears faded. Only when she was sure she had

only one

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

couldn’t afford to waste time.

dawn, she made her way to

already assuming

you want this

that’s not why

shook her head, sitting straighter, tension tightening every

in a deep breath. “Dr. Perkins,

stilled, finally looking up. “You’ve made up your mind?”