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

Chapter 891:

“What did you just say?” Eric’s reaction was one of surprise, his expression clouding with confusion. “Do you really believe my efforts and pursuits are solely for Joy’s sake?”

“Indeed.” There was no hesitation in Hadley’s nod.

“Hadley…” He tried to say something.

She interjected swiftly, “But maybe that’s not entirely accurate.”

Facing him squarely, calmness etched across her features, Hadley said, “Perhaps there’s a part of you that feels something for me. I’ve changed a lot in the past four years. I’m not as bothersome to you as I once was. Since you can’t be with the one you truly love, maybe you’ve decided to settle with me, especially since we now have a daughter.”

“I’m not the person I was four years ago, but they say old patterns cling tight. Deep down, I probably haven’t changed much.”

Hadley eased into the seat, a subtle smile playing on her lips. “You couldn’t stand me then, and your opinion hasn’t warmed up since.” Their recent exchanges had laid that bare time and again.

it wasn’t enough to

“You think you’ve got a clearer read on my feelings than

the one about the bystander seeing the chessboard

without hesitation, but then I paid dearly for it. What makes you think I’d stumble into that trap again now? Just because

darkened at her words, shadows pooling in

breath. “I’m grateful you’ve embraced Joy and stepped up for her. That’s something decent in you, at least. But we don’t need to twist ourselves into knots over

where

that, she shut her eyes and sank

“Hadley…”

He swallowed his next words, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he gripped the wheel and drove

a stop

for the handle, only to find it wouldn’t budge.