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?”

looking a little self–conscious. “Do

laugh slipping out. “I’m just… a little touched.”

“Touched?”

a stray strand of

now on, I’ll treat you right.

words hit deep.

Hadley blinked, dazed,

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

painting the world in warmth. The sun, bold and brilliant, began its slow

that, Hadley was

her eyes, catching on tiny flecks of gold

“It’s beautiful, right?”

stared at the sunrise, lost in its glow–while Eric only looked at her.

unwavering And in that moment,

you’d like it.”

turned to the person beside

was what he was like when he let

carefully–waking up early

she was

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

drove her back to the entrance of Mayfield Road. “Get some rest when

“Okay.”

car disappeared down the street. But instead of heading inside, she pulled out her phone,

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I’ll Treat You Right

“Dr. Torres.”

attending physician–Mathias‘ friend, Colden Torres.

a small vial and

“Alright. Leave it to

wasn’t allowed. But with Mathias and Colleen pulling strings, he didn’t have much

to me ASAP,” Hadley urged, her voice

to stress.”

to the lab right away and have them fast–track the

Dr. Torres,” Hadley said, her gratitude

results that

The medical jargon blurred together, but Colden had already summed it

gripping her phone so tightly her fingers

had partly expected this.

Eric were Joy’s parents–the ones who had given her life once. But now, when she needed them most, they couldn’t do it again.

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

one choice left.

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

to waste

way to the clinic

at her, already assuming

you want this

why I came…”

head, sitting straighter, tension tightening every inch of

drew in a deep breath. “Dr. Perkins, I’m here for

stilled, finally looking up. “You’ve