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

Chapter 101 LetHelp

The elevator ascended to the top floor, where the receptionist escorted Hadley out and then promptly departed.

Hadley then proceeded alone towards the CEO's office.

Upon entering, she found Eric engrossed in his work.

“There you are.” Eric glanced up briefly. “Just a moment. I'm nearly done. Please, take a seat.”

“Sure.”

Settling onto the sofa, Hadley’s eyes inadvertently fell on a brown paper bag resting on the coffee table,

strikingly similar to one she’d seen earlier with Linda.

Could this be the same?

“Do you recognize the scent?” Eric, having completed his tasks, approached and gestured towards the bag.

“Feel free to open it.”

With a slight frown, Hadley hesitated, making no move towards the bag.

Eric anticipated her reaction. “Worried | might be trying something? Don’t be. It's a treat you'll enjoy.”

When he opened the paper bag for her, the sweet, tangy scent of candied hawthorns wafted through the room.

Sure enough, it was the streat Linda had shown earlier.

“Don’t just look,” Eric said, offering her the bag. “Have one. They used to be a favorite of yours.”

Hadley’s expression shifted as she tried to recall. Had she really enjoyed candied hawthorns in his presence

before?

Reading her hesitation, Eric continued, “You've always had a thing for sweet and sour treats, right? These are

just the right mix. | thought of you when | saw them, so | got them just for you.”

For her? Really?

Silence fell over Hadley as she processed his words.

Deep inside, Hadley suspected these weren't really for her.

She had seen Linda with the very streats just earlier. Without that encounter, maybe she would have

believed Eric's words that these were for her. After all, she knew Eric himself had never cared for sweet-and-

sour snacks.

So, those were for Linda. He really went out of his way for her, didn’t he?

Even with something as small as a snack, he made sure she had it.

“Why aren't you eating?” Eric asked after a while, noticing she hadn't yet taken any.

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Chapter 101 LetHelp

“I'll try them later,” Hadley replied, taking the bag from him and placing it on the table. She felt a slight tremor

in her fingers. “You seemed urgent on the phone-what’s up?”

“Oh, right,” Eric said, smacking his forehead as if just recalling the reason. “That's why | brought you here.”

He stood and motioned for her to follow. “Let’s go; | have something to show you.”

He picked up his suit jacket and grabbed his car keys, “I'll explain on the way. Also-” With a nod toward the bag

on the table, he added, “Take those with you. You can eat them in the car,”

“Alright.”

Descending in the private elevator to the underground parking, they made their way to Eric's car. He ignited the

engine and navigated onto the street.

“Hadley,” Eric said, his eyes meeting hers in the rearview mirror with a measured look. “We're headed to the

hospital. My brother-he’s woken up. | want you to see him.”

Hadley’s expression shifted to one of surprise-a partial performance, as the shock wasn’t entirely feigned.

Despite already knowing, the reality hit hard, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

“Ernest is awake?” she asked, voice trembling.

“Yes.” Eric confirmed, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “He woke up a few days ago. | didn’t inform you

immediately since you were out of town,” he explained.

“That’s wonderful,” Hadley murmured, her hands clenched in her lap, moisture forming on her palms.

A genuine smile crossed her face. Ernest had always been like an actual brother to her, his presence comforting

and constant.

Now, after such a lengthy coma, he was awake again. At long last, it seemed fate was granting them a reprieve.

“That's truly incredible.”

Her fingers quivered subtly.

Eric caught the motion and his tone becgentler. “There's no need for nerves... Ernest isn’t aware of the

baby yet. We've decided not to tell him for now.”

The family had concerns that the news might overwhelm Ernest too soon after his recovery.

Besides, Ernest was oblivious to Linda's pregnancy when he had that accident and went into a coma.

For now, they chose to keep everything from him.

When he grew stronger-when the moment felt right-they would finally tell him the truth.

Hadley knew the rationale behind the secrecy all too well.

Yet, Eric seemed concerned. Was he worried she'd fear Ernest finding out?

Absolutely not.

Hadley had long suspected that the circumstances surrounding Linda’s accident years ago were shrouded in

unspoken realities.

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She also believed Ernest was central to uncovering those truths.

Now that he was conscious again, would the full story finally emerge?

The prospect intensified the shaking of Hadley’s hands.

6.

Ernest stood apart from Eric in disposition, possessing a level-headedness and fairness unmatched within the

Flynn family. He was undoubtedly the one most capable of unraveling the truth.

Unaware of the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind, Eric noticed her shaking.

His expression grew concerned. “There's no need to worry. Even if Ernest learns the truth, the hardships you've

faced have already compensated for much.”

He was referring to her forced taway abroad.

A bitter chuckle escaped Hadley silently; her eyes held a steely resolve. “Don’t worry. I'm not scared.”

Fear was no longer a part of her.

Those four years had transformed her from a helpless girl into someone forged with resilience.

Still, without concrete evidence, she remained unjustly labeled.

Finally, fate seemed to correct its course- Ernest had awakened!

This was her chance to reverse the wrongs she had been dealt.

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“We've arrived.”

As the car halted outside the hospital, Eric got out and moved to open her door.

However, Hadley didn’t wait for him and stepped out by herself.

Hadley moved swiftly, her eyes locking on Eric. “Let's go.”

“Alright.” Eric’s response cafter a slight hesitation, perplexed by her apparent eagerness, contrasting starkly

with her lack of fear.

In the hospital room, they stood together beside the bed.

“Ernest, look who's here,” Eric said, stepping aside to give Hadley space.

Approaching the bed, Hadley found her emotions overwhelming her before she could even speak. Tears

streamed down her face.

“Ernest...” Her voice broke, laden with emotion.

Ernest's response was nonverbal-a faint smile that acknowledged her presence, his lips curving ever so slightly

His fingers twitched at his side, a subtle hint of his attempt to move.

“Ernest?” Eric was puzzled. “Do you need something?”

Hadley quickly interjected, tears choking her voice. “No, he doesn't...”

She took a deep, shaky breath, and then suddenly got down by the bed. “Ernest, | know you can’t move much

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now, so lethelp.”

Ernest blinked slowly, his eyes seeming to affirm her gesture.

Carefully, Hadley lifted his hand, placing it gently on her head. “Like this, right?” she murmured softly.

Ernest blinked again, tears now glossing his eyes.

Back then, to Ernest, Hadley had always seemed like the little sister he never had.

Every tshe approached him with that sweet smile of hers, Ernest would gently pat her head with a warm

smile of his own, saying, “Be a good girl and focus on your studies, and remember, you can always ctoif

you need anything.”

Now, overwhelmed by these memories, Hadley couldn’t hold back her tears and sobbed deeply.

Remaining beside his bed, she whispered, “You'll get better, Ernest... You have to recover.”

She believed firmly that he would return to being his kind and gentle old self, the bright and dignified eldest son

of the Flynn family.