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

Chapter 1504:

Elissa’s lips parted slightly, the possibility catching her off guard. “Is it really that dangerous?”

“Can you say it isn’t?” he countered, his eyes locked with hers. “You don’t know what might happen next time. None of us do. And Locke… he’s just a child. He needs you whole.”

Then came the final push—subtle, steady, and laced with sincerity. “Elissa, let me take care of you,” he said softly.

Elissa lapsed into contemplative silence.

Ernest’s assessment cut through her defenses with unexpected force, striking at vulnerabilities she had attempted to conceal, even from herself. If his assertions held any truth, her situation was indeed precarious, necessitating protection she could not provide on her own. Yet here she was in Srixby, without a secure refuge—who could she possibly turn to in this hour of need?

Her father? Their strained relationship offered no practical support.

fighting his own battles. His fragile health would only worsen if he knew of her predicament,

itself revealed its painful

of her joyless marriage, meaningful connections had eluded her. Only Hadley had managed to break through her solitude,

within Elissa recoiled at the idea of burdening Hadley with her troubles. Hadley had her own complex life to navigate. True friendship, after all, was not meant to be a repository

weighed heavily on

fixed upon Ernest’s face, her expression betraying the disorientation sweeping through her. Ernest’s evaluation of her circumstances rang disturbingly true as he spoke

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her resolve, rejection formed on her lips. “No, such measures are unnecessary. The severity of it likely

voice carried a note of urgent

is unnecessary.” Her tone

evening routine. Tomorrow will suffice for a visit. For now,

Elissa’s unconscious mind once