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

Chapter 1336:

Just as the familiar outline of her neighborhood came into view, Hadley’s phone pierced the quiet with a sharp ring.

“Hello?” Hadley answered the call, her voice softening instantly. “Oh, Joy, sweetheart.”

“Mommy, are you done with work?” Joy’s small, eager voice bubbled through the line.

“Yes, love, I’m all done. I’ll be home soon to get you ready for your bath, alright?”

“Okay!” Joy chirped. “Mommy, I’m out walking with Melba. We’re waiting downstairs so we can go home together!”

“Sounds perfect,” Hadley replied, a smile tugging at her lips.

In the background, Melba’s voice floated through, gentle but firm. “All done, Joy? Time to say goodbye to Mommy.”

“Okay…” Joy began, but her voice cut off with a sudden, sharp cry. “Ah!”

grip

tore through the line, raw and frantic, before

“Hello? Melba!”

the phone, her face draining of color as though she had glimpsed a specter. “Hello? Melba,

remained open, but the familiar voices of

he gently took Hadley’s hand, his steady

“Joy is in danger!”

Instead of pulling away, she clung to Eric’s hand with desperate strength, her complexion ghostly pale. “They’ve gone

He tightened his hold on her hand and swiftly retrieved the phone with the other. “Phillips, it’s me. Joy’s in trouble. Head to

commanding, as he ended the call

first

“Cordell, it’s me…”

pounding, anxiety etched into every line of her face. When Eric hung up, she grabbed his arm. “What is happening? Is Joy…

assured her, though worry gnawed at him. He couldn’t let his

Hadley’s trembling hand in his. “I swear, Joy will come back