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

Chapter 248 I Just Want To

Hold You

Ernest rose from his seat and left the lounge.

Eric’s surgery was almost done. It was time for him to wait outside the OR.

Without a word, Hadley followed.

“Ernest,” Linda called softly, standing up from the bench and taking Ernest’s arm. “Sit down. You should not strain your leg.”

“Alright.”

A few steps away, Hadley observed them in silence, a strange sense of disbelief washing over her.

Linda, this selfish and calculating woman before her, had once risked everything to save the Flynn brothers… Ernest had said that Eric’s feelings for Linda stemmed from gratitude.

Hadley suddenly found herself wondering–what about Ernest? Was his affection for Linda rooted in love or obligation?

Or perhaps, was it a love shaped by gratitude?

The morning light brightened.

Eric’s brow furrowed slightly as his eyes fluttered open.

His arm felt oddly weighted. Looking down, he saw Hadley asleep beside him, her fingers curled loosely around

his arm.

Her long hair spilled over her shoulder, smooth and shining like silk.

Eric swallowed hard, an unfamiliar warmth stirring in his chest.

Hadley, ever the light sleeper, sensed the shift and stirred, propping herself up on her elbow. Her drowsy gaze met his.

“Did I wake you?” Eric’s lips curved into a teasing smile. “You drooled. Are you not going to wipe it?”

Hadley froze, her cheeks burning as she quickly raised her hand to her mouth.

Then she paused. There was nothing there.

Her brows furrowed as she glared at him. “You think that is funny?”

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“Pfft… I did not expect you to be so gullible,” Eric chuckled.

Annoyed, Hadley moved to pull her hand away, but Eric held on. “I am sorry! I am really sorry! Do not go, Hadley… Stay with me!”

What could she do? When this man decided to be unreasonable, he was capable of sending himself straight

back to the operating room.

“I am not going anywhere.” She pointed to the IV bottle. “It is almost empty. I will call the nurse to remove it.”

carelessness, and air could slip into

“Oh, okay.”

Eric

out and soon returned with

nurse removed the IV, the caregiver placed a tray of food on the

bowl and stirred its contents with a spoon.

for you to swallow… And

blew on it gently before

is not too hot anymore. Open up.”

sip, his smile

chicken as

Eric accepted

I am really happy.”

woke up, she had not

known that going into surgery would make you stop being

murmured.

a fraction of a second, but then simply continued feeding him. “Eat before

“Alright.”

of by her, Eric felt nothing

refused to admit she liked him? It

that soon, Denver would be nothing more than a

Eric with his meal, Hadley left for the hospital

By the

you eat enough?”

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“Yes,”

I Just Want To Hold

made her way

frowned. Was she really going

to protest,

light steps to the bedside, placed the

down beside him.

him. “Did I bump

back to reality, his voice firm.

“That’s good.”

remote on the bedside table. A TV was mounted on the wall opposite the bed, and with nothing else to do, watching

in silence would be far too awkward.

you want to watch?” Since they were watching together, Hadley figured

“Anything’s fine.”

days, Eric would go along with whatever Hadley wanted, and now, especially when he was in such a good mood, he had no

you like. I’ll watch with you.”

“Okay.”

flipped through the channels and finally settled

“Let’s watch this.”

mind was in chaos, and she couldn’t focus on anything too

his position until,

instantly. “Be careful not to tear your

tightly. “I just want to hold

hint of grievance. “I

be. She had already expected this would happen when she lay down beside him.

him the courage to press his cheek against

still unsatisfying,

huffed, slightly annoyed. “If you keep acting up, I’ll get off.” “Don’t!” Eric tightened