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

Chapter 858:

Hadley’s laughter rang out as she stooped to scoop Joy into her arms. “Mommy!” Joy pouted, her little face clouded with emotion. “Am I not well-behaved? Does Mommy like Tyler more?” Where was that coming from?

Hadley and the young woman shared a look and erupted into laughter. Hadley leaned in to whisper in her daughter’s ear, “You’re my favorite, you know that, right?”

“I know!”

Joy’s face lit up with a smile as she nestled closer to her mother. “Mommy is my favorite too!”

Across the street, Eric sat frozen in his car, eyes wide with disbelief.

He stared at Hadley and Joy, each wearing a Minnie Mouse hair clip. One was perched neatly on the back of Hadley’s head, and the other was clipped above the little girl’s ear.

One for each of them.

knuckles turned white. It was as if it might

strolled farther down the sidewalk, Eric opened the car door and stepped out. He followed

he drew closer, their voices floated

“Let’s go home, baby.”

milkshake was super yummy and

Just like you, my sweet

were soft—just a gentle exchange between mother and

Fresh stories here gαℓησν??s․cøm

into his chest. Every phrase struck hard, leaving behind a hollow ache. Unaware they were being followed, the

His thoughts were a mess. His heart pounded hard against his ribs, loud enough

pulled out a cigarette, and lit it with trembling fingers. The first drag hit deep, the smoke heavy in his lungs. He exhaled through his nose,

people who bought those Minnie Mouse clips. She was

She was Joy’s mother.