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

Chapter 1334:

Eric’s expression dimmed, the light in his eyes flickering. “That wasn’t my intention,” he said softly. “If I wanted to twist your arm, I would have reached out first, waited for your nod, and then stepped in. Right?” He fought the urge to clasp her hand, his gaze a storm of intensity and restraint.

“I did it for you. Hadley, not to corner you.”

Hadley froze, struck by the raw vulnerability in his eyes, the depth of his affection laid bare.

Yet, the shadow of another woman lingered in her mind. A dull ache bloomed in her chest, and she offered a bittersweet smile. “Please, don’t say things like that anymore.”

“Hadley…” Eric’s voice cracked, barely a whisper.

“I can’t let myself fall for you again,” Hadley murmured, her sigh heavy with resignation. “Whatever you feel for me, save it for someone else.”

“Someone else? Who?” Eric’s breath hitched, and in a sudden surge, he grasped her hand. “I don’t care for Ayla. She and—”

“Enough!” Hadley’s eyes squeezed shut, pain and defiance warring within her as she yanked her hand free. “I don’t want to hear her name! I don’t want to know about you and her!”

Eric’s voice faltered,

waiter, who wheeled in

Scott, Miss Pearson, please savor your

you,” Eric replied, his eyes lingering on

up his fork, serving her a portion with quiet

dropping to her plate. She ate in silence, letting the earlier tension dissolve into the clink

island, the only sounds the gentle scrape

she seemed

his brow knitting with hesitation, “there is something else I would like to

gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s․𝒸оm hosts thrilling adventures

Hadley asked, dabbing

wavered, and then steadied as he drew a deep breath. “You

“What?”

heart skipping a beat at the unexpected proposal. Yet she was certain she hadn’t