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, eyes widening. “You’re—you’re

a nearby surface and rushed forward, hands outstretched

approach, his good arm creating a barrier between them. The nurse’s youth triggered wariness—his encounter with Ayla had left him distrustful of

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

a high-pitched wail suddenly pierced the

“Joy!”

his legs over the edge, bare feet hitting the cold floor as he

before he reached it, revealing

the skin around her eyes puffy and inflamed. “Joy

uninjured arm, gathering Joy into

into his hospital gown as her

there’s no one here who would harm you…” Hadley’s heart raced as she sought to soothe her trembling

Eric interjected softly, shaking his head. “Let