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

Chapter 502:

Hadley followed her gaze to the dress—only to notice that someone else had already set their sights on it.

“Hadley?” The surprise in Linda’s voice was unmistakable. Her grip on the gown loosened as realization dawned. “So… this dress belongs to you.”

Hadley met her gaze, an easy smile playing on her lips. “Looks like it. Do you like it?”

“I do,” Linda replied without hesitation. She ran her fingers over the fabric one last time, reluctant to let go. “I really like it—everything, from the silhouette to the finer details.”

She hesitated for a moment before adding, “Tonight is Ernest’s first public appearance at Flynn Group’s events since his recovery. I want to stand beside him looking my best.”

Hadley raised a brow but said nothing.

For a brief moment, Linda seemed to wrestle with herself. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, she stepped back. “It’s fine,” she said at last, a tinge of sadness in her voice. “I shouldn’t have set my heart on something that wasn’t mine. Don’t worry. I won’t compete with you. It’s yours.”

if she were the

with Hadley. However… this time, she simply offered a

to perfection—and she wasn’t wrong. Whether deliberate or not, Eric had chosen a style Linda would adore, even though the dress was meant for Hadley. It was clear he always

over again. Hadley believed Eric must have envisioned Linda while ordering this dress. Thinking back to her welcome-back party when she first

g αℓ

She turned to the shop assistant and said, “Please

“Excuse me?”

“This.”

both the shop assistant’s and Linda’s faces. Linda’s excitement was

right,” Hadley confirmed with

assistant wavered. “But Miss Pearson,

Hadley remained unbothered. “Since he bought it for me, I own it. That

but recognized

“Good, it’s decided then.”

her excitement, Linda immediately grabbed the dress and