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

Chapter 1009:

To be closer to her, Ernest pulled his chair alongside hers. The gentle glow lit her features, softening them with a tender radiance.

Unconsciously, Ernest’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He reached for the decanter on the table and poured two glasses of red wine. Elissa caught the scent in the air.

“What’s that? Red wine?”

“Yes,” he replied. “It’s your birthday. I thought we’d share a glass.”

“Alright.”

He gently took her hand, guiding the stem of the glass into her fingers. “Careful. Hold it steady.”

Elissa let out a quiet laugh. “You’re fussier than Laney. I may be blind, but I haven’t lost the ability to hold a wine glass.”

“That’s on me,” Ernest said, tone warm and unbothered.

He raised his own glass and lightly tapped it against hers. “Happy birthday.”

Elissa froze, a sudden tightness in her chest. Her nose tingled. “Thank you,” she murmured.

her head and took a

frowned. “You

head. “It tastes familiar. Is this

blinked, surprised. “It is. You can tell? Are you a wine

little, I lived abroad with my mom. She ended up

I didn’t know any better. I drank red wine like it was juice. I guess I

and unguarded, and something about the brightness

has fresh updates for

luxurious, untroubled. If it hadn’t been for him… her life might’ve stayed

had endured so much—all because

down and began plating food for her, carefully slicing the meat into small,

of everything. Take your time. If

“Alright.”

her fork and began eating

watched her eat with such visible enjoyment, Ernest’s lips curved into a quiet

fill up too fast. There’s still a

lit up.

is. Later, I’ll help you blow out the candles