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

Chapter 11 Hadley Rejects Him "Release me!" As their skin made contact, Hadley experienced a startling zap, reminiscent of an electric shock, prompting her to jerk her hand away from Eric.

"What?" Eric paused, looking at his hand in surprise. "Are you really pushingaway like this, Hadley Turning her head aside, Hadley muttered, "I can manage on my own. I'll just walk behind you." "What?" With a raised eyebrow and a hint of sarcasm, Eric responded, "You're avoiding my touch?" He moved closer, his irritation evident.

"Do you think I'm eager to hold you? Had you not been lagging, I wouldn't have needed to. Your overreaction is really unnecessary." Hadley cast her eyes downward, her eyelashes casting shadows as she stayed quiet.

Eric scoffed and spun around. "Just keep up!" "Alright." Hadley gave a nod, quietly breathing a sigh of relief. She might have been overreacting, but it was involuntary As soon as his fingers grazed hers, a chill reminiscent of a serpent's touch crept across her skin.

This sensation filled her with revulsion and unease.

Instinctively, she withdrew her hand.

Eric's brisk pace soon created a gap between them, and his glance back at her carried a shadow of annoyance "Could you possibly move any quicker?" "Sure!" Hadley hastened her steps to keep up with him.

Eric's gaze narrowed as he pondered the recent interaction. Had Hadley really just rejected him? He recalled a twhen she scarcely could bear to be apart from him....

Her stint overseas appeared to have transformed her.

0.0% 19.09 о < Indeed, this was the change he had been hoping for.

Looking back, he realized sending her away was undoubtedly the correct choice.

If she had always been this sensible, perhaps he could have regarded her as a sister, much as Ernest had.

Approaching the garage, Eric's ringing phone interrupted the silence.

He paused to answer it.

"Hello, Linda." Overhearing the name, Hadley discreetly stepped back, allowing for privacy.

Eric's face hardened in response to Linda's words. He responded, "Stay put. I'll be right there!" After ending the call, he looked at Hadley. "Stay here." He rushed off before she could reply.

"Hey...".

Hadley started to call out to him, but then halted, releasing a resigned sigh. She decided it wasn't worth the effort.

She wanted to tell him that she really didn't need his help to get home. He was better off attending to Linda. Since he had instructed her to wait, she complied.

Eric's temper had clearly worsened, now more volatile than ever.

"Linda!" Eric made his way quickly to the bathroom.

He thought Linda would have departed with her assistant by now, but she was unexpectedly still there.

"Eric!" Linda greeted him with a faint smile, waving as she sat beside her assistant.

Eric closed the distance rapidly. "What's the matter? Why is your foot injured?" "It's just a twist. I might have had a bit too much to drink and missed the step coming out of the stall..." Linda dismissed the concern with a smile. "Really, it's nothing serious..." "That's not true." Her assistant cut in, scolding her, "Aren't you going to tell Mr. Flynn the truth? Look at how swollen your ankle is!" She then carefully lifted the hem of Linda's dress for Eric to see.

"Mr. Flynn, please, take a look at this." Eric examined Linda's ankle, noting the pronounced swelling with a grimace of concern.

21.7% 19:09 O < "Did you intend to keep this from me?" Linda offered a weak smile. "I just didn't want to cause you any stress." "This only makesworry more." Eric paused briefly before inquiring, “Are you able to walk?" "Not at all!" her assistant interjected. “She attempted a few steps, but it was too painful. We had to call you." "Understood." With a concerned furrow of his brow, Eric said, “We should head to the hospital." He gently lifted Linda in his arms and instructed her assistant, "Please, bring the car around." "Right away, Mr. Flynn!" As she rested against Eric, Linda bit her lip, embarrassed. "I hate that I'm causing you trouble again." "What are you talking about?" Eric's tone was tinged with irritation. "Looking after you is my duty." "Alright." Linda nodded slightly, her smile faint as she averted her gaze.

Tpassed by, and Hadley glanced at her phone again. Twenty minutes had elapsed, and there was still no sign of Eric.

She chuckled to herself, not surprised in the slightest.

He had obviously left her behind.

This was typical Eric behavior, something Hadley had cto anticipate.

Putting her phone away, she decided to start her journey hon her own.

At this late hour, buses no longer ran, and a taxi was beyond her budget. Nonetheless, she was determined to make it on foot.

She would walk all the way home.

Meanwhile, Eric was at the hospital with Linda, ensuring she received proper medical attention.

The diagnosis was a strained ligament in her ankle; thankfully, no bones were broken. A cast was fitted, and rest prescribed, with no need for an overnight stay.

He then escorted her back to the expansive Flynn family estate.

Though Linda and Ernest had never formalized their union, she had once carried his child, a pregnancy that tragically did not cto term.

The Flynn family had long embraced her as Ernest's wife, and she had resided with them for many years.

47.8% о 19:10 O < In recent times, as Nyla aged, she had delegated the management of the mansion's affairs to Linda "Take care and rest well." After assisting Linda to her room, Eric made sure she was comfortable on the bed before saying, "Goodnight.' Returning the gesture, Linda smiled gently and murmured, "Goodnight."

As Eric reached the doorway, Linda called out to him. "You're heading back to Silver Villas, aren't you?"

Before he could reply, she continued, her voice carrying a hint of sorrow. "You should. Hadley has returned, and she would expect you there. She might get upset if you're not..." Eric let out a derisive snort. "Why would she be upset? The divorce papers are already signed. Soon enough we'll-" Suddenly, Eric stopped in his tracks, struck by a sudden realization.

Hadley! He had inadvertently left her at the sanatorium.

"Damn it." With a grimace, he shut his eyes, chiding himself for his oversight.

Glancing at his watch, he noted that more than two hours had elapsed. Surely, she wouldn't still be there, would she? It seemed unlikely anyone would wait that long.

"Linda!" Eric spoke hastily. "I need to leave now. Make sure you rest up!" "Eric, wait..." Linda attempted to hold him back, to no avail.

Her pulse quickened.

Had Eric mentioned that Hadley had signed the divorce papers? Were they really going through with the divorce after all this time? Linda's expression tightened with worry, her thoughts clearly troubled....

As Eric rushed down the stairs, he frantically scrolled through his phone for Hadley's number.

When he tried to call, he was met with her voicemail immediately.

His brow furrowed in determination, he attempted the call once more.

Yet, each attempt led to the sunanswered result.

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