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.”

Hadley, whose face now glistened with unchecked emotion, tear tracks marking the contours of

wiping away Hadley’s tears. “You have me. When the Scott family comes for the formal proposal, I’ll handle everything for you. I won’t let them

her eyes were still swimming with emotion, gratitude and disbelief warring

anxious sparrow,” Nyla dismissed Eric with an imperious wave. “Hadley remains with me—we have wedding strategies to devise and family matters to settle. Your presence is no longer

you wish, Grandma.” Eric couldn’t suppress the victorious grin spreading across his face. “I’ll take my

concern tempering his joy. “Don’t attempt the journey home alone. I’ll return for you

await on

yourself…” He pivoted smoothly, gesturing to his brother. “Ernest,

Ernest with mischief dancing in his eyes. “It appears we’ve officially become

shut in profound exasperation. He found the guileless