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.

where he looked–she wasn’t

phone and

echoed

onto the living room sofa–where

more–her coat still hung by the entrance, her shoes neatly in

went out in nothing but

hands clenched into fists, frustration and regret colliding in his

without a

fingers pressing against

car… He had lost control.

Denver… nothing had happened between them last night.

a man–as her man–he would have known the moment

blinded by jealousy, he hadn’t been able to

later, anger had turned into something else entirely.

control. He wasn’t even sure why. Years ago, these things had never mattered to him. But with Hadley, every little thing got under his skin. Every look, every

he wasn’t as good as Denver.

now, here

right about one thing–he really was a bastard.

only one thing

strode into the study, his movements swift, his mind racing. Pulling up the surveillance footage, he fast- forwarded until he spotted Hadley.

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the house, wrapped only in a thin sweater, her arms crossed tightly over her chest against the biting

at the sight. Damn it. Where could she have

friends in Srixby, which meant there was only one place she could have gone–her apartment at West Twelfth Alley.

keys and tore out of the house, driving straight into

“Hadley, Hadley!”

his voice raw, his breath misting in the frigid

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

knocked, no matter how many times he called her

had expected that. But still—

you out here making so much

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

What?

at his sides.

out weeks ago. Place has been empty ever since.”

neighbor shot him a smirk, sizing him up. “Guess you two weren’t as close as you

shut in Eric’s face.

stood motionless, the world tilting slightly beneath him. Hadley didn’t live here anymore. She was gone. She didn’t even mention it to

dimmed for a moment, his frustration

Hadley

the building, he wasted no time–calling property management,

Villas, the surveillance footage had already been retrieved. His gaze locked

only captured part of the license plate. Just a few digits. Not enough to trace.

“Phillips!”

He didn’t need to ask–he already knew what Eric wanted.

but it was a lead. They had the car’s color, model,

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wasn’t enough. They needed more. Hadley hadn’t been back in Srixby long, and her circle was small. She didn’t have many places to