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

Chapter 759:

Joy’s voice was soft, but there was something different in her tone this time. Hugging her plush toy tightly, Joy hesitated before asking, “Are you and Dad apart now? Will you never be together again?”

“Why do you ask that, sweetheart?” Hadley asked gently, studying Joy’s expression.

Joy was still so young—did she even understand what she was talking about?

“Because… Dad never comes to our house.” Joy lowered her gaze, hugging her plush a little tighter. “Tyler said… when it’s like this, it means Mom and Dad are separated.” Tyler Warren—her little playmate from the neighborhood—had always looked out for her.

He was the one who had first introduced Joy to the idea of a dad, filling in the gaps Hadley had tried to shield her from.

Hadley sighed inwardly. Joy was growing up. The days of brushing things off with simple distractions were slipping away.

“Joy.”

two tiny buns and pulled her daughter into a gentle

certain reasons, we’re not

up, her big eyes blinking inquisitively. “What about

hesitated. Where did she get this sharpness from? Even at her age,

the future…” Hadley carefully measured her response. “Mom doesn’t know yet. It’s not something Mom

brows furrowed. “Why? Is it because Dad doesn’t

𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕟

felt a bead of sweat forming at the nape of her

around Hadley. Her voice was filled

forehead. Reaching for the hair clips on the table, she carefully pinned one on each side of Joy’s buns, giving her a proud smile. “There. You

Hadley scooped Joy

giggled, throwing her arms around Hadley’s neck as they headed for the

and Melba took Joy downtown, heading straight to a children’s clothing store. They had perfect timing—the holiday sales were