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

Chapter 102 A Convenient

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Eric stood there, a wave of melancholy sweeping over him as he watched Hadley with his brother.

He realized only now how deep their bond was.

He could faintly recall Ernest’s consistent kindness toward Hadley, his brother was a good man, kind-hearted by

nature, which explained Hadley’s profound respect for him.

Reflecting on it now, the loss they had endured-Hadley must have been heartbroken, despite her known

differences with Linda.

Back then, Eric was too wrapped up in his own guilt towards his brother for not being able to protect his child to

see the situation from Hadley’s viewpoint.

What was done was done. Dwelling on those days served no purpose now.

Leaving the hospital room, Eric noticed Hadley’s tear-stained face. “Stay here for a second,” he instructed

gently. “I'm going to grab an ice pack for those eyes.”

Her eyes, red and swollen, looked painfully irritated, almost as if she would struggle to keep them open without

srelief.

“Thank you.” Hadley gave a distracted nod.

However, as soon as Eric turned his back, Hadley’s resolve hardened. She couldn't stay here a moment longer.

Without a second thought, she dashed toward the hospital exit, driven by an urgent need to escape.

She knew now-Linda had spoken the truth.

Ernest was conscious again. Eric, who had always held his brother in high esteem, was likely torn by his loyalty.

With Ernest awake, Eric could no longer remain by Linda's side without raising suspicions. He probably saw

Hadley as a convenient buffer against any potential misinterpretations by his brother.

This realization explained Eric's sudden kindness toward her.

A cold shudder passed through Hadley as she grasped this reality.

All of Eric's recent attentions, his pursuit of her-it was all a facade, not truly meant for her.

The weight of those long, loveless days in their marriage pressed down on her once more, suffocating her like a

relentless wave. She vowed never to return to such depths.

At that moment, Eric cback, ice pack in hand, only to discover her absence.

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Chapter 102 A Convenient Buffer

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He stopped a nurse and asked, “Did you see that girl 1 cwith?”

A nurse responded, “The young lady that was with you? She just rushed out.”

Eric didn’t even wait for her to finish; he dashed off, his long legs carrying him swiftly.

“Hadley!”

Hearing her ncalled out, Hadley felt her heart skipped a beat.

She turned around and saw Eric approaching fast, his expression one of concern. A surge of panic washed over

her.

“Hadley!” Eric exclaimed as he gripped her wrist and pulled, causing her to stagger and nearly fall into him.

Hadley’s reaction was one of sheer panic; her body trembled violently, and a cry of alarm escaped her lips.

Eric, taken aback by her intense response, momentarily froze, wondering if this was a sign of another distressing

“episode” she was experiencing.

It had been stsince Hadley had shown such a severe reaction.

What was causing this now?

“Releasenow!” Hadley demanded, her voice laced with panic.

“Okay, okay!” Eric quickly let go of her hand, showing his palms in a gesture of peace. “Look, I've let go. There's

no need to be frightened.”

Breathing heavily, Hadley fixed him with a wary stare. “Move away from me!”

“Understood, I'm moving back.” Eric complied, his voice calm, retreating slowly to give her space.

Hadley remained tense, clearly on guard. Eric, recognizing her discomfort, continued to back away, ensuring not

to provoke further distress.

The elevator dinged just in time.

Hadley whirled around, darted into it, and furiously tapped the button to close the doors.

“Please, please,” she muttered urgently to herself.

“Hadley!” Eric’s voice echoed in the hall. He was just a few steps too late as the doors slid shut in front of him.

Frustration overwhelmed him, and he hit the elevator doors with the palm of his hand, exclaiming, “Damn it!”

When the elevator hit the ground floor, Hadley burst out, still shaking. She raced forward, driven by the ne to

escape, not daring to pause for even a moment, fearing Eric might be right behind her.

In her rush, she wasn’t looking where she was going.

Then, she collided with someone.

Before she could even steady herself, she murmured frantically, “I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry-

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Looking up, she recognized the person she had run into. His expression was one of surprise and concern

“Hadley?”

His voice instantly brought a rush of different emotions.

Hadley’s eyes widened as she finally registered the familiar face before her. “Denver, is that you?”

Denver nodded, his brow furrowed in concern. “Yes, it's me. What's going on? You look terrified.”

He could see her shaking, the color drained from her face, her lips pale.

The fear was evident in her eyes-she was more than just scared.

“Are you being chased?”

AEBean”

Hadley’s voice was barely a whisper, her body swayed as she fought to maintain her composure. Her efforts to

remain composed were futile; anxiety clutched her chest tightly, her eyes brimming with tears.

Denver's expression softened significantly, his tone gentle. “Let’s get you to safety. You can trust me, can’t you

Hadley hesitated before nodding, her body trembling. “Yes.”

“Alright, let’s move,” Denver said, guiding her away with a reassuring touch.

They had just reached safety when-

“Hadley!”

Eric’s voice echoed from the elevator bank, filled with concern as he looked around desperately.

“Hadley? Where are you? Can you hear me?”

Hidden in the storage room nearby, Hadley cowered against the wall, her body quivering at the sound of his

voice. Her face grew even whiter, and her breaths cin short, sharp gasps.

Denver observed her reaction, his mind racing with questions he dared not ask, worried it might worsen her

state.

After a moment, Eric failed to spot her and dashed outside the lobby.

Denver held back, watching over Hadley patiently.

As her panic slowly eased, though she remained deeply shaken, Denver finally said softly, “I'm going to check

outside. Just stay here, okay?”

Hadley managed a weak nod. “Okay... Thank you.”

“You really don’t need to thank me,” Denver said with a soft smile, exiting the storage area quietly.

Just outside, he watched Eric's car drive away from the hospital He breathed a sigh of relief as it disappeared

into the distance.

He then returned to where he had left Hadley.

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Chapter 102 A Convenient Buffer

Finding her still in the srigid stance, Denver said with gentle assurance, “He's gone now. You can relax;

there's no need to be afraid anymore.”

After a moment's pause, Hadley stepped out from her frozen spot, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, trying

to calm her nerves.

With a slight, embarrassed smile, she said, “I'm sorry for all the trouble.”

“Oh, it was no trouble at all,” Denver replied, waving off her apology. “Helping out is what friends are for, right?

How are you feeling now? Can | drive you home?”

Given the difficulty of hailing a taxi in the area and considering her unsettled state, he felt uneasy about leaving

her alone.

Denver caught Hadley’s hesitation and frowned. “Don’t even think about saying no. Friends help each other-

that’s just how it works, right?”

“Sure thing.” Hadley acknowledged, offering a thankful nod.

“Off we go,” replied Denver, warmly. He gestured towards the car.

Settled inside, Denver inquired about their destination. “Need directions?”

“Head to West Twelfth Alley,” she instructed.

“Right,” replied Denver, his interest piqued further by their destination but respectfully restrained.

Reclining, Hadley closed her eyes, gradually soothing her nerves and restoring her peace.

The car cto a gentle halt on Mayfield Road.

“Looks like we've arrived. Cars can’t go through up ahead.”

Opening her eyes, Hadley seemed revitalized, her usual composure restored.

“I appreciate it,” she said quietly, stretching to retrieve her bag from the backseat.

“Hold on a moment.”

Hadley paused at the sound of Denver's voice.

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