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

Chapter 936:

His voice was smooth, familiar.

Elissa froze for a moment, stunned by the sound. “Wait… it’s you?”

“Yes, it’s me,” he answered with a soft nod she couldn’t see. “Your neighbor here at the sanatorium. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas,” she replied, her tone lighter now. Her expression softened into a warm smile. “I thought you were going home for the holidays?”

“I was. Just got back, actually,” Ernest said. Then, with a gentle tilt of his head, he asked, “And you?”

“Same here,” she answered.

Just then, Laney returned with two small plates of snacks. She gave Ernest a quiet nod, acknowledging him without a word.

plates and handing it carefully to

said, smiling with genuine gratitude. She was

have some, too,” she added, gesturing slightly toward the plate. “I can’t

“Thank you,” he replied.

“You’re welcome.”

was performing a lively number, filling the room with music

sound, taking it all in. Beside her, Ernest sat quietly, uninterested in the performance. His thoughts were elsewhere—on

at her profile, concern flickering in his eyes. Were her eyes still swollen? Did

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eyes…” he said hesitantly, his Adam’s apple shifting with the weight of his words.

the softness in it. She paused, but then offered a small, wry smile. “They’re okay—except

even without vision, some people still

I didn’t know.” She thought for a moment, before adding, “I was uncomfortable yesterday, yes—but the