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.

Scott,” she stammered,

clipboard on a nearby surface and rushed forward,

arm creating a barrier between them. The nurse’s youth triggered wariness—his encounter with Ayla

wife?” he demanded, voice

wife?” The nurse echoed, confusion evident in her furrowed brow. Just then, a

entire body went rigid. “Joy!” Recognition flashed

aside and swung his legs over the edge, bare feet hitting the cold

door burst inward before he reached it, revealing Hadley

cracked with strain, the skin around her eyes puffy and inflamed. “Joy woke in a panic and hasn’t stopped sobbing. Nothing I do seems to

arm, gathering Joy into his protective embrace. “Joy, sweetheart, it’s me!

tiny fingers digging into his hospital gown as her body heaved with sobs. “Bad people!” she wailed between

you…” Hadley’s

shaking his head. “Let me