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

Chapter 167 Why Are You

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Eric frowned. Hadley had been in the restroom too long. A gnawing unease settled in his chest, pushing him to check on her.

Through the door, her voice was sharp, accusing him of something inappropriate with Linda. Then–without hesitation–she tossed the hair tie he’d given her straight into the trash.

He stood there, waiting, half–expecting her to say something. To acknowledge him.

But Hadley didn’t even spare him a glance. She stepped past him like nothing had happened.

As she moved past, he caught her wrist.

His voice was low, edged with tension. “Pick it up.”

“What?” Hadley let out a quiet laugh. “Why would I pick up something I threw away? It is disgusting.”

“Pick it up!” Eric’s voice cut through the air, sharper this time, his gaze locking onto hers with unyielding intensity. “I said, pick it up.”

“Ouch!”

Hadley flinched as his grip tightened around her wrist. She shot him a glare, yanking against his hold. “I won’t! You can’t make me!”

Her eyes burned–fierce, unwavering.

“Trash belongs where it belongs–in the trash!”

Trash?

Eric’s jaw tightened. Had she really just called the hair tie he gave her trash?

His free hand curled into fist at his side, frustration simmering beneath his skin. “That was a gift from me!”

“Ha.”

Hadley let out a sharp laugh, her sneer cutting. “You think it’s appropriate to give us both the same gift? Does Ernest know? That you gave his wife and me the exact same thing?”

She pointed at the trash can, mockery laced in every word. “I tossed it for your sake. Wouldn’t want Ernest catching on to your shady intentions and ruining his recovery, now would we?”

Eric’s fingers tightened around her wrist. Hard.

Hadley sucked in a sharp breath, her wince barely concealed. It felt like he was moments away from crushing

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the bone.

“Shady intentions?”

eyes burned–an unsettling mix of fury and something even colder. “Is that what you think

I wrong?” Her voice was steady, deliberate. “It’s not about what I think. If you don’t want Ernest to lose it, you should keep your dirty

any longer. She stormed forward, her voice sharp. “Shut up!” Without hesitation, she raised a hand and

let you talk about him like that!”

froze, the sharp sting still burning on her cheek. But the shock didn’t last long.

staggered back, clutching her cheek in shock. Her voice wavered with

cold. “Oh, so it’s fine when you hit me, but I can’t return the favor? Doesn’t

letting this slide!”

seething,

she could land a blounged

might rip

tangled into her hair–yanking hard enough that

shrieked, tears brimming

rushed forward, grabbing Hadley’s wrist. “Let go! Now!”

and Ernest were still waiting!

let go. Didn’t even flinch.

but to tighten his grip, prying Hadley’s fingers from

and then let out a low, bitter laugh. “You two

“Hadley!”

“What?”

controlled expression clouded with frustration. His eyes burned with something unreadable–something dangerously close

think I’m that

cutting like a blade. “What’s wrong? The truth too much for

“Hadley!”

tilting her face up until their eyes locked. His gaze was unreadable, but the weight behind it pressed into her

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idea you saw me this way. If that’s how you feel, why did

as abruptly, he let go and turned away. Without sparing Linda a glance,

scrambled after him, fingers fumbling to fix her disheveled

stood frozen, the moment replaying in her mind.

with a sharp exhale, she knocked her forehead with her

purely on

have let the truth

the illusion was shattered, how was she supposed

next two days, Eric didn’t call or text Hadley. The usual flowers he sent to the studio?

the back of her mind–was this it? Was their arrangement over?

didn’t love him. That much was clear. But

to let this fall

her, then she’d just have to make

just weren’t worth it. But that day, frustration had won. She hadn’t been able to hold

long pause, she opened WhatsApp and typed,

that she

night, her performance was the first on stage, wrapping up

stepped out of the