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

Chapter 1350:

Silence descended upon the room, broken only by the distant sounds of hospital equipment.

Residual anesthesia coursed through his system, quickly dragging Eric back into the depths of slumber.

Hadley maintained her vigil at his bedside for some time, periodically slipping away to monitor Joy’s condition in the neighboring room. When consciousness finally reclaimed Eric, the room had transformed.

Gentle amber light from the wall lamp cast long shadows across the floor. Beyond the window, darkness had already claimed the sky.

He jolted awake, his eyes snapping open, but the space beside him was empty. Hadley was gone.

“Hadley!” The name burst from his lips like a plea.

His sudden movement startled the nurse who had just entered with a clipboard in hand.

she stammered, eyes widening.

clipboard on a nearby surface and rushed forward, hands outstretched to assist

barrier between them. The nurse’s youth triggered wariness—his encounter

my wife?” he demanded, voice sharp with urgency. “Where has

furrowed brow. Just then, a high-pitched

went rigid. “Joy!” Recognition flashed across his

his own condition, he flung the blanket aside and swung his legs over the edge, bare feet hitting the cold floor as

revealing Hadley cradling

inflamed. “Joy woke in a

me take her!” Eric thrust forward his uninjured arm, gathering Joy into his protective embrace. “Joy, sweetheart, it’s me! What’s frightening

as her body heaved with sobs. “Bad people!” she wailed

who would harm you…” Hadley’s heart raced as she sought to soothe her

softly, shaking