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

Chapter 103 Let's Be Together

“What's wrong?” Hadley frowned in confusion. “Did something happen?”

Denver hesitated, his gaze fixed on her. After a brief pause, he finally spoke up.

“I don’t mean to pry, but why are you so afraid of Eric?”

His throat tightened as he forced out his next words.

“Aren’t you two back together?”

“Back... together?”

Hadley’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Why would you think that?”

Denver stayed silent for a moment before answering honestly. “That's what Eric told me.”

Before she could respond, he let out an uneasy chuckle. “Did you two have a fight? Arguments between couples

are...”

“No!”

She cut him off abruptly, pressing her lips into a thin line.

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “It’s not a fight. We aren’t back together because we were never

together in the first place!”

Denver was caught off guard.

What was going on?

“You're not back together?” His brows furrowed. “Then... why would Eric say that?”

It was clear that Eric's hostility toward him wasn’t an act. He genuinely saw Denver as a threat.

As Denver watched Hadley’s reaction, things started falling into place.

“Does this mean Eric's making decisions on his own, and you don’t feel the sway?”

Hadley wasn’t expecting Denver to be this perceptive.

She stayed quiet, but the look on her face told him everything.

“I was right, wasn’t 1?”

Frustration surged through him. He slammed his hand against the steering wheel. “Eric has crossed the line!”

Feelings should go both ways. No one had the right to force another person.

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“But...” Denver struggled to understand. “Why are you running away? Can't you just talk to him?”

“Talk to him?”

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Hadley let out a hollow laugh, the weight of her past pressing against her chest.

“This isn’t the first time...”

“What?” Denver froze. “Wait. Are you saying that you and Eric were...?"”

Hadley shut her eyes and gave a slow nod.

Her marriage to Eric had been nothing more than a carefully crafted schby the Flynn family.

At twenty, she had been too naive to see it. Now, four years later, the truth felt like an old wound that never

healed.

Did she resent them?

How could she not?

The forced vows. The humiliation in front of everyone.

And

yet, despite it all, the Flynns had been kinder to her than her own blood.

Hadley was a woman abandoned by her own father. After losing her grandmother, Hadley had pleaded with him

to take her in.

She had only been fifteen.

All she wanted was someone to call family.

But he had turned his back on her without a second thought.

In the end, Nyla had reached out to Hadley and brought her into the Flynn household. She gave her food, a place

to stay, and sent her to school. Most importantly, she support Hadley to keep dancing.

Without the Flynn family, how would a fifteen-year-old orphan have survived?

Hadley would always be grateful for their kindness. That was why, even when they hurt her, she had no choice

but to endure it.

Thinking back on everything, she let out a soft, hollow laugh. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Ernest is awake. I...

om

The words caught in her throat.

“I understand.” Denver's voice was gentle. “You don’t have to explain. | already know.”

There was nothing left to question.

Earlier that day, he had gone to the hospital to see Ernest, who had just regained consciousness. That was when

he found Hadley, running away in distress.

The Flynn family....

Even someone as patient as Denver couldn't stay calm. “They’re using past kindness as a way to demand

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something from you, wwwxx comdering what power

Horting her on kaba’t en mough They now had to box an

No wonday fox, who had been so did to duce fey the years, suddenly changed his mind

Madley stiffened

She stared at Denver, ker exorCart

Hatley resized that Kerge Colleen, Denver had been the only person who seemed to care what she wanted

A soft haze blurred her vision, and the pressed her lips together. “Thank you”

She and Denver had only crossed pathe a few times, bove the fact that he was willing to stand up for her meant

more than she could express

Denver gave a small shake of his head. “Why are you thanking mar

He let out a quiet breath. “I haven't really done anything for your

“Don’t downplay ”

Hadley offered him a faire smile. “I don’t have any friends in Stixby, just having someone to listen and stand up

formeans more than you think.”

She grabbed her bag, stepped out of the car, and said, “Thanks for the ride. Il head in now

“Alright.”

Denver got out as well, watching as she walked away.

Then, without thinking, he took off after her. “Hadley”

Hearing her name, she stopped and turned to face him. “What is it? Do you need something?”

“Yeah!*

His voice carried a sense of urgency,

“Do you have a plan to deal with Eric? From what | know, he’s not the type to back down easily.”

That much was true.

Hadley’s expression darkened. Nyla had once told her that once Eric set his sights on something, nothing could

stand in his way.

But what could she do?

She let out a quiet breath and shook her head. “As long as | keep refusing, there's nothing he can do.”

RlSEEy

Denver swallowed and met her gaze.

His voice dropped slightly. “I might have an idea.”

Hadley blinked in surprise. “What kind of idea?”

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Chapter 103 Let's Be Together

Curiosity flickered in her clear eyes.

The way she looked at him made his pulse quicken. He took a steadying breath before speaking, “Let’s be

together,”

Hadley froze, staring at him in shock. How could that possibly solve anything?

She couldn’t drag Denver into this mess just to escape Eric.

“You...”

Before Hadley could argue, Denver quickly cut in. “Wait, don’t get upset. You're misunderstanding me. I’m not

trying to take advantage of you. It would just be for show. If Eric thinks you're already in a relationship, he might

finally leave you alone. Don’t you agree?”

Hadley didn’t respond right away.

It sounded like a logical plan.

She recalled what Nyla had once told her, if Hadley herself wasn’t ready, no one would force her. Nyla truly

wanted her to find someone she cared about.

If she and Denver pretended to be together, and Nyla backed them up, Eric wouldn't have a way to interfere.

The thought passed through her mind for only a second before she pushed it away.

“No, | can’t.”

Hadley shook her head, her voice firm.

What was she thinking? She knew Denver had feelings for her. How could she even consider using him like

that?

Using him to get rid of Eric had no difference from playing with Denver's genuine feelings, and that was

something she couldn't do.

“Why not?” Denver's expression darkened. “You won't even consider it? Not even if it’s just an act?”

“Denver...”

Hadley hesitated, searching for the right words. “We haven't known each other long, but | already think of you as

a friend.”

It was the sfeeling she had when she first met Colleen in Blathe. She knew Denver was a good person.

And for that very reason, she couldn't take advantage of him.

“You're someone with a kind heart...”

“So that’s it? The ‘good guy‘ speech?” Denver let out a wry smile.

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“No.”

Hadley shook her head, her gaze steady. “That's not what | mean. You're genuinely a good person. If the

situation permits, I'd be overjoyed to have you as my best friend—but nothing more. Look, I'm just an ordinary

person, and your life is only just unfolding. One day, you’ll meet someone incredible, the kind of woman who's

meant to be in your story.”

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