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

Chapter 167 Why Are You

Here

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?”

of fury and something even colder.

about what I think. If you don’t want Ernest to lose it, you should keep your dirty little secrets

couldn’t hold back any longer. She stormed forward, her voice sharp. “Shut up!” Without hesitation, she raised a hand and

talk

didn’t last long. Her instincts

her cheek in shock. Her voice wavered with disbelief. “You

hit me, but I can’t return the favor? Doesn’t work

not letting

seething,

could land a blounged at Hadley. “Ah!”

might rip clean

hard enough that it felt like

Linda shrieked, tears brimming

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

and Ernest were still waiting!

let go. Didn’t

had no choice but to tighten his grip, prying

second, and then let out a low, bitter laugh. “You two really know how to put on a show.”

“Hadley!”

“What?”

his usually controlled expression clouded with frustration. His eyes burned with something

think I’m that

much for you? Or are you just too much of a coward to face

“Hadley!”

dropped, low and deliberate. He gripped her chin, tilting her face up until their eyes locked. His gaze was unreadable, but the weight behind it pressed into her like

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this way. If that’s how you feel, why did you even say

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

fingers fumbling to fix

moment replaying in her mind.

exhale, she knocked her forehead with her palm.

had acted purely on

have let the truth

was shattered, how was she supposed

Hadley. The usual flowers he sent to the studio?

the question nagging at the back of her mind–was this

clear. But

to let this fall apart.

then she’d just have to make the

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

WhatsApp and typed, “Are

that she expected one.

the first on stage, wrapping up

the time she stepped out of the studio, it wasn’t even