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

Chapter 1038:

“Eric!”

Linda’s grip tightened, her voice desperate.

She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with frustration and vulnerability. “Are you angry with me? Do you still hold it against me? For knowing you first but choosing Ernest back then?”

“Linda,” Eric shook his head, frowning. “You’re reading too much into it. I didn’t…”

“Don’t lie to me. I know you had feelings for me!” Her voice cracked, tears spilling over. “You have every right to be upset. I did turn my heart to your brother. But Eric, I liked you just as much as I liked Ernest!”

Eric stood frozen, trying to interrupt. “Linda, please…”

But she was unstoppable now, her words tumbling out. There was no going back once she’d started. Since she had spoken of her feelings, she could only go all out!

“Eric, trust me! My feelings for you are as real as they were for Ernest! I may have kept my distance these past years, but from now on, you’d have all of me.”

eyes, unable to

now! I’m done with him, I

couldn’t rein her in,

never truly been hers!” Linda’s smile held a quiet certainty. “Remember when we were kids? You promised you’d always look out for me, be there for me. And you have—quietly watching over me all these years. I see it now, how you

trailed off as she noticed Eric’s

impassive—more than that, it was frigid, tinged with discontent and a hint of

that you can leave Hadley behind. Doesn’t that

atmosphere grew heavy,

met her gaze, his tone flat, teetering between doubt and echo. “You are the one I’ve

captivating tales

room fell into a dead

I do like you… That’s undeniable. How could I not like the girl who pulled me back from the brink

over Linda. She got emotional, and her eyes glistened with tears that

eyes turned darker, and his tone grew more serious. “Linda, you’ve been with Ernest for over a decade. Never have I felt jealous. I’ve only ever felt happy for

word, the spark in