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.”

of Denver. A tired but genuine smile touched her lips. “That

with a small nod, returning

end of their conversation

once-over, his

“I am,” she answered.

doctor said if everything looks good after one more night of observation, I can go home tomorrow morning.”

him. “If it weren’t for you… I might never have seen Joy again.” The weight of that truth settled between them. She owed him more than words could repay. He had saved her life. How could one even

had seemed to accept it—his choice to charge into a burning building to save

love are at

hadn’t let go. Not

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

pulled you

me anything. What my mother did to you back then—I was part of that debt.

casually, as if rescuing her was just balancing some old ledger. Such a perfect moment—he could have used it, pressed