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

hapter 176 She Had Been

All Alone

The car was steeped in silence.

Eric’s gaze dropped to the woman in his arms. Hadley’s eyes were tightly shut, her face turned away as if refusing to acknowledge him. But the redness at the corners of her eyes–still damp with unshed tears- betrayed her.

Was it just a physical reaction? Or… was she crying for someone else?

The thought sent a chill through him, and his expression darkened.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth.

Releasing her, he stepped out first, walking around to the passenger side before gathering her into his arms. The moment he lifted her, he felt the faintest tremor run through her body.

Eric’s frown deepened. “What’s wrong?”

Hadley shook her head, silent.

She didn’t have to say it–he already knew. He had lost control earlier, had let his emotions override his restraint. He had been too rough. Did he hurt her?

His arms tightened around her as his pace quickened, carrying her from the garage straight into the house. Entering the master bedroom, he gently laid her down on the bed.

Reaching out, he brushed aside her disheveled hair, but–Hadley turned her face away, avoiding his touch.

Eric froze. His hand hovered for a moment before he withdrew it.

Finally, his voice broke through, quieter this time. “Rest. I’ll run you a bath.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode toward the bathroom.

The moment she heard the water start running, Hadley’s eyes snapped open. A mist of unshed tears blurred her vision, leaving her gaze red and puffy.

Afraid he might come back at any second, she threw off the covers, slipped out of bed, and rushed straight for

the door.

By the time Eric returned, a fresh set of pajamas in hand, he was completely unaware of what had just happened.

“Hadley, the bath is-

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Chapter 176 She Had Been All Alone

He sat down at the edge of the bed, reaching to pull back the blanket. But the moment his hand brushed against it, an odd sensation gripped him.

Something felt off. Frowning, he yanked the blanket back–Empty.

His chest tightened.

“Hadley?”

Eric shot to his feet, scanning the room. His heart pounded as he checked the bathroom, the closet, the balcony -nothing.

A surge of panic crashed through him as he bolted out of the bedroom, tearing through Silver Villas like a man possessed.

matter where he looked–she wasn’t there.

grabbed his phone and dialed her number.

echoed

toward the sound, eyes locking onto the living room sofa–where Hadley’s bag sat,

entrance, her shoes neatly in place. The only thing missing were a single pair of indoor

out in nothing but a thin sweater

into fists, frustration and regret colliding in his chest.

without a coat–how would she

pressing against his temples as his mind

the car… He had lost control. He knew

happened between them last

would have known

blinded by jealousy, he hadn’t been

turned into something else

ago, these things had never mattered to him. But with Hadley, every little thing got under his skin. Every look,

when she kept insisting… that he wasn’t as good as

now, here

was a bastard. But that didn’t matter now.

only one thing that

study, his movements swift, his mind racing. Pulling up the surveillance footage, he fast-

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grainy black–and–white footage showed her stepping out of the house, wrapped only in a thin sweater, her arms

at the sight. Damn it. Where could she

have many friends in Srixby, which meant there was only one place she could have gone–her

no time, Eric grabbed his keys and tore out of the house, driving straight into

“Hadley, Hadley!”

his voice raw, his breath

sorry, okay?” Eric murmured, pressing his forehead against the doorframe. His voice was low, almost pleading. “Please… open the door,

no matter how many

had

out here making

with irritation. “Quit making a scene! No one lives there anymore–who are you even

What?

fingers curled at his sides.

huffed, folding his arms. “Tenant moved out weeks ago. Place

“Guess you

man door shut

here anymore. She was gone. She didn’t even mention it

dimmed for a moment, his frustration

Hadley

wasted no time–calling property management, Phillips, anyone

His gaze locked onto the screen. There she was–Hadley–hurrying out of his

of the license plate. Just a

“Phillips!”

didn’t need to ask–he already knew what Eric wanted. “I’ll have someone look into it right away.”

the car’s color, model, and partial plate number–that gave

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that wasn’t enough. They needed more. Hadley hadn’t been back in Srixby long, and her circle was small.