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

Chapter 999:

His voice was soft, gentle, as if he were afraid that a louder tone might break her.

Hadley looked him in the eye and began slowly, “I wanted to talk about Joy… and the cryopreservation—have you thought it through?” Eric’s expression darkened. “Didn’t we agree to wait until the time comes?”

“I can wait,” she said gently, not pushing. “But you have to promise me that when that time comes, you’ll cooperate.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Eric’s brows drew together. “Joy’s my daughter too, and I care about her.”

Hadley nodded. “Then I’ll trust you to keep your word.” A faint smile touched her lips.

“When the time is right, I’ll reach out. If you want to see Joy before that, talk to Melba.”

“Hadley?!” Eric’s chest tightened, his nerves stretched thin. “Are you saying… you don’t want to see me again?”

“Yes.” She touched her throat and nodded, her expression unreadable. “Unless absolutely necessary, I’d rather not.”

frustration laced beneath the

all Ferris’s doing—his trap had

“About last night—”

need to explain. Linda and I were both taken last

angry nor sorrowful. “And I know you chose to

Eric shot to his feet, breathing hard,

not

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calm. “Don’t bother denying it. The truth has a way of surfacing. I could speak to Linda directly, you know. Shall

head, eyebrow arched in challenge. “Want to hear it from

knew if Hadley confronted Linda, everything would

it was because of you that I was put in danger.” She looked away briefly, and then added, “Still, it’s only natural to protect the one you truly care about. That’s just

“Hadley…”

his knees beside her bed, clutching her hands like she might

time felt different—final. She