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.

head and took a small sip.

frowned.

that…” She shook her head. “It tastes familiar. Is this Lafite Rothschild?” She took another sip.

is. You can tell? Are

exactly. When I was little, I lived abroad with my mom. She ended up marrying a

wine like it was juice. I guess I picked up a thing

laughter was light and unguarded, and something about the brightness of

has fresh

grown up in a world of privilege—safe, luxurious, untroubled. If it hadn’t been for him… her life

had endured so much—all because

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

bit of everything. Take your time. If there’s

“Alright.”

began eating

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

fast. There’s still a

lit up. “There really

you blow out the