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!”

Hadley’s heart lurched, her grip tightening

the line, raw and frantic, before the call went

“Hello? Melba!”

as she clutched the phone, her face draining of color as

open, but the familiar voices of Melba and Joy had eerily

gently took Hadley’s hand, his steady grip anchoring her spiraling

“Joy is in danger!”

head snapped up, her eyes wide with terror. Instead of pulling away, she clung

the phone with the other. “Phillips, it’s me. Joy’s

commanding, as he ended the

first

“Cordell, it’s me…”

into every line of her face. When Eric hung up, she grabbed his arm. “What is

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

in his. “I swear, Joy will come