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

Chapter 1538:

From her vantage point, Hadley watched the interaction unfold, a tender smile softening her features as something profound squeezed her heart.

“Oh!” Eric exclaimed with theatrical surprise. “You really are Joy! I’ve found you beneath all this mud!”

“Yes!” Joy confirmed through a cascade of infectious giggles, pride beaming through the dirt on her face.

With Joy balanced securely in one arm, Eric’s gaze shifted to Hadley, something unreadable flickering in his eyes as he gave Joy’s tiny hand a gentle, meaningful squeeze.

“Joy,” he asked softly, his voice suddenly serious despite his mud-spattered appearance. “Would it bother you if your mom and I got married?”

Hadley froze completely, her lungs seizing mid-breath as though time itself had suspended around them.

His straightforward question to Joy blindsided Hadley almost with the force of a physical blow, catching her utterly defenseless and unprepared.

Sooner or later, Joy had to know.

her daughter, both nervous

voice was soft, uncertain. She didn’t fully understand what marriage meant,

Eric nodded. “Yes.”

way to explain it. “It means your mom, you, and

up at him. She didn’t speak right away, but then

Was she upset?

She gave Eric a quick glance. “Maybe

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instead. “Are you

caught. Her heart thudded painfully as she met her daughter’s

“Yes,” she said softly.

looked up at Eric again. “So… if you marry

and Hadley froze at the

had expected it—not like this, not