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

Chapter 16 Want To Salvage The Marriage As their lips briefly met, the softness was unexpectedly profound.

Almost immediately, Hadley was overwhelmed with a flood of emotions, her eyes flashing with shock.

She reacted instantly, pushing Eric away with force from her hands and feet. “Let go of me! What are you doing? Get off!" "Hadley, what's happening here?" Eric, visibly annoyed, responded, "Do you really think I was trying to hold you romantically? You were asleep and I was merely helping you. The kiss was just an accident. I lost my balance!" "Back off!" "Calm down, alright? I'm letting you go!" Eric stepped back at once, but his attention was drawn to her arms. Noticing the cuts and blood, concern flickered across his face.

He reached out instinctively to touch her arm. "Did these wounds happen when you were defending yourself? Are you injured? Why didn't you mention these at the station?" Their distance narrowed once again.

Overwhelmed, Hadley suddenly clutched her head and let out a piercing scream. "I said back off! Stay away from me!" Eric was taken aback, his thoughts whirling.

He quickly withdrew his hand and moved back. "Okay, okay! I was just trying to help, but clearly, it didn't work out." "Ah!!!" Hadley closed her eyes tightly and screamed, shaking her head as if to block out his voice.

"Hadley!" In his frustration, Eric slapped his hand against the car. "Settle down! Look at me!" The impact made the car vibrate. Hadley went still, and then slowly opened her eyes. Seeing that Eric maintained his distance, she began to relax.

She gripped her backpack tightly and whispered, "Move back a few steps, please." 0.0% 19:12 Chapter 16 Want To Salvage The Marriage This would give her enough space to exit the vehicle.

Eric, his frustration evident, nodded and stepped back.

Hadley compressed her lips, bowed her head, and quickly climbed out of the car, starting to walk away briskly Watching her retreat, Eric couldn't help but snort. "What was she thinking? Does she really believe I was going to do something to her?" How ridiculous! Eric shook his head, trailing after her.

"Hadley." Upon entering the living room, he called out again.

Hadley paused but didn't turn around. "What is it?" Eric's laugh was cold, tinged with contempt. "Really, Hadley, your behavior earlier. Did you actually believe I was about to make a move on you?" Hadley's gaze dropped to the floor, her silence filling the room.

He took that as confirmation.

His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Unbelievable! I wasn't interested in you four years ago, and now you think I suddenly am?" Abruptly, she spun around to meet his gaze. "I'm well aware of how little I mean to you. I'm probably worth less than the family dog to you. You don't need to emphasize it over and over; I understand it already." Eric was momentarily speechless.

"Less than the family dog?" Had he ever implied that? He scoffed with a touch of scorn, "Good to know you understand. At least a dog listens. You just s trouble." "Yes." Hadley's face showed no emotion. "Are we done here? I'd like to go rest now." Eric paused, taken aback by her lack of reaction.

He shook his head and gestured dismissively. "Go ahead... whatever.” As Hadley turned to leave, a thought struck Eric. "Wait!" "What now?" Hadley looked back, her expression tight with annoyance.

cause Despite her impatience, Eric couldn't help but let out a frustrated chuckle. "Really? Givingattitude now? Tell me. Which room have you been using these days?" Hadley hesitated, but then chose not to respond.

Eric's suspicion grew. "I looked around, and none of the guest rooms are used. Where have you been sleeping these last few nights?" He had checked? 19.8% 111 19:12 O < < Chapter 16 Want to Salvage The Mariage Hadley was taken aback by his sudden interest in the servants' quarters, though she wasn't inclined to inquire why he had looked As the proprietor of the house, he had every right to check on things whenever he wished he gestured toward the living area. "I've been sleeping on the couch." "You've been on the couch?" Eric was taken aback "Don't worry about it," Hadley responded. I've kept it clean, there's no dirt or odd smells.

After a brief pause, she added, "If it bothers you, I can cover the cleaning costs." Eric found himself at a loss for words.

"Is there anything else?* It was clear Hadley was eager to conclude their interaction. "I'm exhausted and would just like to wash up and go to sleep." With that, she made her way deeper into the house.

Driven by curiosity, Eric couldn't help but follow her.

He observed her entering the bathroom, spotting a suitcase by the door from which she took a change of clothes and her toiletries.

Eric's frown intensified.

Impulsively, he moved closer and looked at her squarely. "So, this is how you've been managing these days?" Holding her belongings, Hadley simply nodded. "Yes." "Huh?" Eric was doubtful. "What's going on with you? Why are you putting yourself through this? Are you out of your mind?* Hadley didn't respond directly, instead she asked, "May I shower now?" "Hold on." A thought suddenly struck Eric.

He gave a knowing smirk, his expression one of realization.

"You're laying it on thick, aren't you? Trying to makefeel sorry for you? Do you think this will makego easy on you? Have you not given up yet?" What was he implying? It took a moment for Hadley to grasp his meaning, her confusion apparent. "You think I'm trying to win your sympathy to salvage our marriage?" "What else could it be?" Eric scoffed, his tone derisive. "Why else would someone like you, who's always had everything you want, endure such conditions?" She always had everything she wanted, huh? 44.5% 19:12 TIL O Chapter 16 Want To Salvage The Marriage Hadley was taken aback by his sudden interest in the servants' quarters, though she wasn't inclined to inquire why he had looked.

As the proprietor of the house, he had every right to check on things whenever he wished.

She gestured toward the living area. "I've been sleeping on the couch." "You've been on the couch?" Eric was taken aback.

"Don't worry about it," Hadley responded. "I've kept it clean; there's no dirt or odd smells." After a brief pause, she added, "If it bothers you, I can cover the cleaning costs." Eric found himself at a loss for words.

"Is there anything else?" It was clear Hadley was eager to conclude their interaction. "I'm exhausted and would just like to wash up and go to sleep." With that, she made her way deeper into the house.

Driven by curiosity, Eric couldn't help but follow her.

He observed her entering the bathroom, spotting a suitcase by the door from which she took a change of clothes and her toiletries.

Eric's frown intensified.

Impulsively, he moved closer and looked at her squarely. “So, this is how you've been managing these days?" Holding her belongings, Hadley simply nodded. "Yes." "Huh?" Eric was doubtful. "What's going on with you? Why are you putting yourself through this? Are you out of your mind?" Hadley didn't respond directly, instead she asked, "May I shower now?" "Hold on." A thought suddenly struck Eric.

He gave a knowing smirk, his expression one of realization.

"You're laying it on thick, aren't you? Trying to makefeel sorry for you? Do you think this will makego easy on you? Have you not given up yet?" What was he implying? It took a moment for Hadley to grasp his meaning, her confusion apparent. "You think I'm trying to win your sympathy to salvage our marriage?"

"What else could it be?” Eric scoffed, his tone derisive. “Why else ewgutch someone like you, who's always had everything you want, endure such conditions?" She always had everything she wanted, huh? ||| 19:12 O < Chapter 16 Ward to salvage the Manage

Hadley suppressed a seed and said.

in a level tone, "Pest exey, I've stready signed the divorce papers. You won't have to desi withmuch longer You better mean it" Ene watched her carefully, his words measured and has smirk broadening "To advise you to drop the act. Our marriage is definitively over." with those words, he walked away, heading upstairs.

Hadley remained silent, yet a cold smirk briefly crossed her face.

She knew she needed to secure new accommodations soon. It was tto leave In the master bedroom upstairs.

Fresh out of the shower, Eric paused while drying his hair. He absentmindedly touched his lips, haunted by the fleeting softness of Hadley's lips...

A thought struck him, and he swiftly began searching through the first aid kit, eventually pulling out a new tube of ointment.

After hesitating for just a moment, he took it and went back downstairs.

Downstairs, on the sofa.

Hadley was absorbed in her phone, in her gaze locked on the dwindling balance in her banking app.her spirits sinking It felt as if fate was conspiring to heap one problem on top of another. "Hadley," Eric walked up and stopped right before her.

Caught off guard, Hadley swiftly concealed her phone. "What now? Can't I even sleep on the sofa?" Eric's expression hardened into a derisive sneer. "Seerns you're fond of making things difficult for yourself. I'm not here to stop you." He crouched, placing the ointment on the coffee table and tapped it pointedly. Then he gestured at her arm. "Use this on your wounds." Surprise flickered across Hadley's face. Was he actually being considerate by bringing her ointment? Eric's gaze was piercing, his tone cold.

"Regardless of the and the complications tonight, the fact remains you were injured. This ointment is an apology from me." With those words, he turned and retreated upstairs.

Not another word was exchanged.

Hadley sat motionless, her eyes fixed on the ointment long after he had disappeared. Her body was rigid, unable to relax.

Unknowingly, her hands clenched into fists, her whole frsubtly shaking.

68.6% 19:12 ||| O < "Mr. Flynn truly embodies the qualities of a gentleman," she thought with a sarcastic smile.

She turned over, settling back in an attempt to find ssleep.

As for the ointment, she left it untouched, resolved not to use it.

The following morning arrived.

When Eric descended the stairs, Hadley had already departed.

He didn't dwell on it, but as he moved through the living room, his eyes automatically scanned the sofa. Stopping abruptly, he took a moment to reflect.

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