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

Too Late, Mr Billionaire: You Cant Afford Me Now

Chapter 189 Is This How

You Treat Eric

Quentin gave a slight nod. “Regarding that matter…”

Ernest listened in silence, his expression darkening with each passing moment. His brow furrowed, thoughts turning over as Quentin relayed the details..

By the time Quentin finished speaking. Ernest took a deep breath and gave a slow nod. “Understood. It’s late- you should get some rest.”

“Yes, Mr. Flynn.”

As the door closed behind Quentin, Ernest wheeled himself toward the bedroom, his mind still clouded with thought.

Reaching the bedside, he paused, and then slowly pulled open the nightstand drawer. Inside, lay a small, aged box

He took it out, his fingers brushing over its surface before lifting the lid. There it was–the tortoiseshell hairpin His fingers traced over its smooth, polished surface, absentmindedly rubbing the intricate patterns carved into

“Ernest?”

He turned his head just as Linda stepped inside, a cup of warm milk in her hands,

“I thought you were asleep,” she said softly. “I knocked, but you didn’t answer. What are you”

Her voice abruptly cut off.

Her expression shifted the moment she saw what was in his hand!

Ernest tensed. Without thinking, his fingers closed tightly around the hairpin, trying to conceal it from view. But it was already too late.

“What are you hiding?” she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

Linda’s expression turned ice–cold as she stepped forward, her voice sharp with accusation. “I saw it, Ernest! Don’t bother hiding it.” Her free hand clenched at her side as she glared at him. “Didn’t you say you threw it away? Why is it still here?”

“Calm down,” Ernest said evenly, though his frown deepened. “I haven’t forgotten what I promised you.”

“It doesn’t seem like it!

Linda let out a strained laugh, though there was nothing amused about it. Her voice wavered–on the edge of breaking, teetering between anger and pain.

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“Ernest, I have endured so much for you! I’ve swallowed my pride, made compromises I never thought But that doesn’t mean you can keep testing me like this?”

Before he could react, she lunged at him. “You promised me you’d get rid of it! This thing shouldn’t exis”

Her fingers clawed for his hand, desperate to snatch the tortoiseshell hairpin from his grip

But Ernest was ready for her. Anticipating the move, he swiftly lifted his arm, blocking her with just enough force to stop her. “Calm down, Linda“”

The momentum sent Linda stumbling backward. The cup of steaming milk in her hand slipped, tilting violently

Ernest’s breath caught. He had only meant to stop

out toward her. “Are you alright? Let me seedid your arm get burned?”

floor, her gaze unfocused, staring blankly at the spilled

hollow laugh escaped her lips–soft, bitter, devoid

could you

arm. Without sparing him another glance, she turned and bolted out of the

“Linda!”

he possibly catch up? Frustration clawed at him. With a sharp breath, he snatched up his phone and dialed. “Quentin, it’s

was coated in a thin veil of sleet, the

neither Eric nor Hadley had any intention of stepping outside again. They had settled into a comfortable routine–after dinner, Hadley connected her phone to the

minutes passed, restlessness stirred within Eric. He shifted closer, pressing warm, lingering kisses from the crown of her

he murmured against her skin, his voice low and coaxing “How about

she could

The doorbell rang

smile “Guess

nudged him lightly “That’s definitely for

Eric untangled himself from her warmth and

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Is This How You Treat

be at this hour? And

strode toward the door and swung

“Linda? What-”

word, Linda rushed inside. Her eyes were red and swollen, her face pale

saw Eric, her composure crumbled

firm steps forward and

instinctively, his entire body turning rigid with

mind scrambled for

A cool, composed voice

walked over, arms crossed, her long hair cascading over one shoulder, a slow, knowing smirk playing

prickled at his skin. “Hadley..

he had no idea what was going on and why

her head slightly, amusement flickering in

deliberately lowered her voice, drawing out the words. “Should I give you

her, Linda stiffened. She finally lifted her head from Eric’s

caught off guard. “What are

an eyebrow, her smile deepening, “Why

his voice firm. “Hadley is my

lips pressed together. “I

course, she knew. But seeing it–watching the way Eric stood next to Hadley, realizing they were living under the

her gaze flickering toward Eric with an unreadable expression. “So, your darling seems to think I don’t belong here.” She tilted her chin at him. “Should I get

pointed toward the staircase. “Fine,

then.”

second later, she paused, reconsidering “Actually no. I think

his precious sweetheart was here now. What was she still doing hanging

exaggerated nod of understanding, Hadley spun on her heel and strode toward the entrance. “Okay,

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This How You Treat

reacted instantly, grabbing her wrist, panic lacing his voice. “Don’t