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

Chapter 1625:

“Thank you, Ernest,” Hadley managed through a constricted throat before emotion overwhelmed her defenses. Tears streamed freely as she surrendered to impulse and collapsed into Nyla’s waiting embrace. “Thank you, Grandma!” she sobbed, years of longing for family acceptance pouring out at once.

“My precious girl,” Nyla murmured, her usual formality dissolving. Nyla and Hadley held each other fiercely, their tears mingling in symmetry with that long-ago day when a frightened, abandoned girl first crossed into the Flynn family—different tears now, but equally transformative.

Nyla turned toward Eric, her reddened eyes lending unexpected vulnerability to her imperial bearing. “Eric, I place Hadley in your hands once more. This second chance…” Her voice hardened with warning. “Demands nothing less than your absolute devotion.”

“I will,” Eric vowed, standing with sudden formal gravity that seemed to age him a decade. “On my life, Grandma, I swear it.”

“Very well.” Nyla’s nod carried the weight of royal approval, her smile warming gradually. “I place my faith in you.”

whose face now glistened with unchecked emotion,

Scott family comes for the formal proposal, I’ll handle everything for you. I

still swimming with emotion, gratitude and disbelief warring

an imperious wave. “Hadley remains with me—we have wedding strategies to devise and family

victorious grin spreading across his face. “I’ll take my leave,

“Don’t attempt the journey home alone. I’ll return for you later,” he reminded her softly, the protective note in his voice

await

him with fluttering fingers. “Now vanish! You’re clinging like a persistent shadow!” Eric’s smile remained undimmed by her feigned irritation. “I’m departing, Grandma. Please don’t overexert yourself…” He pivoted smoothly, gesturing to his brother. “Ernest, shall we? Let’s allow these ladies their private counsel.” With a gentle but insistent pull at Ernest’s sleeve, the two men retreated in tandem, the door closing

Eric turned to Ernest with mischief dancing in his eyes. “It appears we’ve officially become brothers-in-law from here on, Ernest,” he

blindsided by the observation, and then squeezed his eyes shut in profound exasperation. He found the guileless statement, along with Eric’s goofy smile, too