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

Chapter 98 Making Trouble

For Yourself

Eric took a steady breath, pushing his emotions aside before speaking.

“Grandma, please have sfaith in Ernest. Have you forgotten how strong he is? He survived a coma-do you

really think a bit of rehab will slow him down?”

His words resonated with Nyla, stirring something deep within her.

A slow nod accompanied her sigh. “You're right. Ernest has always been the responsible one. From the the

was little until now, he never gavea reason to worry. He excelled at everything he did...”

But as her eyes shifted toward her younger grandson, her expression darkened. “Unlike you! You do nothing but

giveheadaches!”

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Eric’s face, disappearing just as fast as it came.

“Well, naturally,” he said, flashing his usual careless grin. “He’s the older brother. I'm the reckless younger one.”

“Pfft-" A surprised laugh escaped Nyla despite the tears still clinging to her lashes. With a playful flick to his

forehead, she chuckled. “You little troublemaker. Now that your brother's awake, you're acting like a little brat

again!”

With a longing sigh, she expressed her hope for Ernest's swift recovery. “It'll be easier for you too, once he's

better, right?”

Eric nodded. “Yes, Grandma.”

Throughout the night, they kept vigil in Ernest’s hospital room.

The next morning, Nyla, with Eric's assistance, helped Ernest get ready for the day.

Ernest's cheeks reddened from embarrassment, though he couldn't utter a word yet.

Nyla instantly understood the situation.

Having raised the boys herself, she knew them well.

“You're shy with your grandma?” She chuckled. “Both you boys, I've been cleaning up after you since you were

little-"

“Grandma!” Eric interjected, his hands occupied with a basin. “Not me! Why draginto this? | was the perfect

child!”

Nyla chuckled dismissively at Eric's claim. “Perfect? Really now, you weren't even this tall at birth!”

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< Chapter 98 Making Trouble For Yoursett

Eric responded with mock arrogance, “Clearly, | was meant to be six-foot-two right from the start.”

Laughing, Nyla said without missing a beat, “Please, your brother's the tall one at six-two. You're actually a

little shorter.”

Eric frowned, half-playful, half-serious. “Grandma, con!”

Ernest observed the playful argument from his bed, a slight smile appearing on his face.

Nyla then turned her attention back to Ernest, sitting beside his bed to help him drink swater.

With Ernest having just regained consciousness, his doctors had advised starting with basics like sipping water,

as he still had a feeding tube.

“Take it slow.” Nyla encouraged gently, spooning water and bringing it to his lips.

Ernest attempted to swallow carefully, though a trickle of water still escaped the corner of his mouth.

Eric quickly grabbed a towel and gently wiped Ernest's lips. “Take it easy, brother. You're making excellent

progress.”

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Without waiting for a reply, Linda burst in, her breaths quick and shallow.

“Ernest...”

She paused by his bed, catching her breath.

Noticing her need for closeness, Eric discreetly moved aside to give her space.

Linda arrived directly from a film set, visibly fatigued and still wearing her makeup from the previous night's

shoot. Her face bore the marks of a grueling schedule.

Softly, she approached Ernest’s bedside and murmured his name, taking his hand gently and resting her

forehead against his, her voice shaky with emotion.

A rough sound emerged from Ernest as he tried to speak, but his words were muffled and unclear.

Holding his hand more firmly, Linda whispered reassuringly, “There's no need to hurry. Take your time. I'll be

here, waiting to hear all you want to share, whenever you're ready.”

Nyla and Eric shared a look at the tender scene unfolding before them. Their silent exchange conveyed a mutual

decision; they quietly exited to allow Linda and Ernest sprivacy.

Eventually, Linda emerged from Ernest's room, her eyes visibly swollen from crying.

Her voice, laden with concern, broke the silence. “What have the doctors said? Will Ernest be alright?”

Nyla responded gently, gripping Linda’s hand in a comforting gesture. “The doctors urge patience, my dear. We

should consider it a miracle that he’s even conscious. His recovery will require time.”

Linda’s acknowledgment was heavy with emotion. Tears filled her eyes as she committed aloud, saying, “No

matter how long it takes, I'll be by his side.”

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She then faced Eric, her resolve firm. “I need to reduce my workload to devote more tto caring for Ernest.”

Before Eric had a chance to reply, Nyla was already nodding in agreement.

Her heart warmed. “That's very considerate of you. Don’t worry, Eric will take care of everything”

She gave Linda's hand a gentle pat, offering reassurance. “Ernest will pull through. You've endured so much

these past few years, but finally, the hard times are behind you, aren't they?*

Tears still glistened in Linda's eyes, but her smile held warmth. “Yes, Grandma.”

That evening, Eric spent the night at the family mansion.

A warm glass of milk in hand, he made his way to Nyla’s room.

“Thank you, dear,” she said as he handed it to her.

“You're welcome.”

The mood between them was unusually light that day.

As Nyla took a slow sip of her milk, a thought suddenly surfaced. “Oh, by the way, have you told Hadley that

Ernest is awake?”

Eric gave a slight shake of his head. “Not yet.”

“You-"

A sharp glare cut through the air before Nyla abruptly set her glass down and reached for her phone.

“If you won't tell her, | will. Ernest adored Hadley. And when he fell into that coma, she cared for him without

rest. She has every right to know.”

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“Grandma,” Eric said with an amused chuckle, gently stopping her. “It’s not that | don’t want to tell her. It’s just...

Hadley isn’t in Srixby right now.”

Nyla’s brows lifted in surprise. “She’s not in Srixby? Then where is she? And how do you even know? Wait- don’t

tell me... you're still hanging onto her?”

Eric let out a small cough, straightening his posture. “Hanging on? Grandma, this is called pursuing a proper,

legitimate pursuit, okay?”

Right outside, Linda happened to be passing by. The door was slightly open, and Eric’s words carried clearly

through the gap.

Her steps halted. Holding her breath, she leaned in slightly, listening intently...

Inside the room-

Nyla shot Eric a tired look, shaking her head. “You're just making trouble for yourself! When | was setting things

up for you and Hadley back then, you wanted nothing to do with her! But now that she’s moved on, you're the

one chasing after her?”

A sigh slipped past her lips as a thought struck her. “Is this really about love, or do you just crave what you can’t

have? Do you enjoy the thrill of the chase?”

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< Chapter 98 Making Trouble For Yoursel

“Grandma!” Eric nearly choked, his frustration bubbling over. “Why are you talking like the gossiping outsiders?

How many times do | have to say it before you finally believe me? Linda is my brother's wife! Now that he’s

awake, you really need to stop saying such things!”

At the mention of her eldest grandson, Nyla’s expression flickered, a trace of hesitation passing through her

eyes

A small nod acknowledged his words. “Alright, alright. That was my mistake

Yet, her attention swiftly shifted back to Hadley. “Fine, then tell me-if Hadley’s not in Srixby, where exactly

did she go?”

Eric leaned back slightly, an unmistakable hint of satisfaction in his expression. “She went to Tidebourne.”

Confusion flickered across Nyla’s face. “Tidebourne? What on earth is she doing there? She has no one outside

the Flynn family. Could someone have lured her into something...?”

A quiet chuckle escaped Eric “Grandma, calm down. She went with Ms. Nicolson.”

Without waiting for more speculation, he filled her in on Hadley’s involvement with the Lightning Dance Studio.

Nyla listened, eyes widening as realization sank in. “You actually... went to this much trouble for Hadley?”

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