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

Chapter 997:

As Denver approached, he gave a polite nod. “Eric.”

There was no warmth in the exchange, but civility mattered. Appearances had to be kept.

Eric returned it with a curt nod of his own. “Denver.”

Without another word, Denver pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Hadley was on the phone with Joy, her voice soft and tinged with guilt. “Mommy, you didn’t come home last night,” came the little one’s voice on the other end.

“I’m sorry, Joy. Mommy had work to do.”

She couldn’t bring herself to tell Joy the truth—that she’d been kidnapped and barely escaped a fire. Instead, she wove a story about being stuck with work, away for a few more days. “I’ll be good and wait for you at home, Mommy. Bye-bye.”

“Bye-bye, sweetheart.”

the call, Hadley looked up and caught sight of Denver. A tired but genuine

figured,” Denver said with a small nod,

overheard the tail end of their

gave Hadley a once-over, his gaze

“I am,” she answered.

session. There’s another one scheduled this afternoon. The doctor said if everything looks good after one more night of observation, I can go home tomorrow morning.” Thankfully, there had been no signs of cerebral edema.

it weren’t for you… I might never have seen Joy again.” The weight of that truth settled between them. She

turned Denver down before—and he had seemed to accept it—his choice to charge into a burning building to save her spoke

tales you love are at

hadn’t let go.

you thinking?” he asked, his eyes locked on hers. “Wondering if I’ll cling to you now, just because of what happened?” The bluntness of his question caught

face. “Yes, I pulled you out of the fire. But I haven’t forgotten what you said before. I

anything. What my mother did to you back then—I

just balancing some old ledger. Such