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

Chapter 38 Hooked Like A Fish On A Line This evening, Hadley glided onto the stage, adorned in an exquisite white gown that clung to her torso like a lover's embrace before cascading into a free-flowing cascade below. The silken material danced with the spotlight, glinting like liquid starlight with every graceful motion she made.

Her face was concealed by a mask, one half adorned with an intricate lotus design, delicate and blooming, while the other remained a blank canvas of mystery. The contrast was striking, a silent promise of hidden depths.

Hadley exuded a serene allure, an enigma wrapped in elegance. There was something magnetic about her, a puzzle that didn't unnerve but rather beckoned the audience closer, stirring their curiosity like moths to flame. In that moment, she danced with a grace that seemed to defy the laws of the earth, her movements as fluid as a dream.

She was a vision of purity, a lotus flower in full bloom, untouched by the world's clamor.

She paid no heed to the crowd, her focus inward, her presence ethereal. Yet, her indifference only amplified her allure-she was a star beyond reach, a celestial being gracing the mortal stage.

The audience sat entranced, their eyes glued to her every twirl and leap, unable to tear themselves away from the magic unfolding before them.

Perched in the opulent VIP booth overlooking the stage, Eric sat utterly enchanted, his eyes locked on Hadley, as if she were the sole star in his universe.

A soft, primal rhythm of drums began to pulse through the air, and Hadley soared upward, her body slicing through the space in a perfect mid-air split. With effortless precision, she seized a ribbon that unfurled from upward.

She swirled across the stage, a vision of elegance in motion, each gesture painting the air with poetry. "Incredible!" "There she glides!" Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd-their voices swelling into a chorus of delight that echoed off the walls. Yet the ribbon fell short, too brief to carry Hadley near Eric's booth. A shadow of disappointment flitted across his features, and he swallowed a lump of longing, the bitter taste of it lingering.

Then, a darker realization struck him like a storm cloud breaking. Eric bristled at the way the others ogled her, their gazes too hungry, too irreverent. It gnawed at him, their audacity to feast on her beauty with such reckless abandon.

0.0% ||| 19.20 < He snatched his glass from the table, downing its contents in one fierce gulp, the burn of the liquor mirroring the fire in his chest. Before Hadley could even vanish from the stage's embrace, Eric sprang to his feet, driven by an unspoken urgency, and made his way backstage with determined strides.

Eric lingered near the staff entrance, the dim hallway humming with anticipation, until he caught sight of her. Hadley approached with quiet poise, her fingers lifting the hem of her gown ever so slightly, each step a testament to her unshakable elegance.

"Hi," he ventured, his voice soft yet heavy with intent.

Only a few strides separated them now.

For a fleeting moment, Hadley froze behind her mask, her breath catching.

Was he speaking to her? Could he have seen through her disguise? No-if he had truly recognized her, his demeanor would have been far less composed.

Hadley's hands tightened into fists, a facade of serenity masking her inner turmoil, though she held her tonue wary of betraying herself with a single word. Were she to utter even a syllable, she worried it might un carefully woven veil of her disguise.

ne Instead, she swept into a graceful curtsy, her movements poised as she attempted to glide past him with the elegance of a shadow.

"Hold on!" Eric had chere just for her-no way was he letting her slip through his fingers so easily.

In a swift motion, Eric's hand shot out, catching Hadley's arm.

Hadley's eyes widened in astonishment, a reflexive tug nearly breaking her free.

But then it hit her-Eric didn't know her true identity. She had to keep her composure, no matter how fast her heart raced.

Still, Hadley's gaze, peeking out from behind the mask, fixed on Eric with a startled intensity.

Eric blinked, a strange wave of deja vu washing over him. Those eyes... why did they stir something deep within him? Realizing his boldness might have crossed a line for a first encounter with a young lady, he quickly released her. "Apologies, I overstepped." Hadley let out a silent breath of relief. Thank goodness he had let go just in time-any longer, and her reaction might have sent the mask tumbling.

"Hello!" Eric stepped back, giving her space to breathe, and extended his hand with a newfound courtesy. "I'm Eric Flynn. May I offer to treat you to a..." "Shh." Hadley hushed him, her finger pressing lightly against Eric's lips before he could finish his sentence. Eric froze, caught off guard.

22.8% 19:21 O < Chapter 38 Hooked Like A Fish On A Line No one had ever dared to quiet him like that.

Though Hadley's mask hid her expression, Eric could almost feel the mischievous smile dancing beneath it.

So, he fell silent as if under a spell, his words fading into the air like whispers on the wind. Then, just as quickly, Hadley withdrew her hand, turned on her heel, and sauntered away. "Hey..." Eric called after her, unwilling to let her vanish so easily.

"Mr. Flynn!" Just in the nick of time, Lennon swooped in, his arm darting out to block Eric's path with urgency.

"Mr. Flynn, we had a deal, didn't we? The competition's still in full swing! Sure, the final toast is all yours, but we've got to keep things above board for now, right? Can ya hold your horses just a bit longer?" "Step aside already!" Eric was ready to brush past Lennon, his patience wearing thin. But before he could push him out of the way, he caught sight of her-Hadley turning back around.

She lifted a delicate hand to the edge of her mask.

For a heartbeat, Eric's pulse raced.

Was she about to reveal herself? Yet, she didn't.

Instead, she nudged the mask ever so slightly and let out a playful giggle.

Then, she spun around and darted off.

Eric stood rooted to the spot, a swirl of amusement and frustration bubbling within him.

"Is she playingfor a fool?" he mused.

He had to hand it to her-she was skilled at this game.

That tiny gesture had him hooked like a fish on a line. Suddenly, the urgency to chase her down melted away.

This was turning into quite the intriguing situation.

Eric's curiosity burned brighter, and he couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay beneath that mask.

Was she worth all this trouble and expense? "Mr. Flynn?" Lennon's voice cut through Eric's reverie, his hand waving in front of Eric's face like a pesky fly. "You alright? Had a bit too much to drink? Need a hand?" "Stop it." Eric snapped back to the present, giving Lennon a quick clap on the shoulder. "Cut the . I'll show her respect. If she is not ready to show her face, I'll wait." "You're a true gentleman, sir." Lennon's face lit up, a grin spreading wide as if he had just struck gold.

As soon as Eric turned to leave, Lennon scurried off to find Hadley.

46.8% <+ 19:21 ||| O < "Hadley, did you see that fine fella? That is the sponsor!"

Lennon was practically buzzing with excitement. "I told you-he is the real deal, pockets deeper than the ocean and a face to match! With him in your corner, what is there to worry about?" Scards Lennon still held close to his chest.

The toast after the championship was merely the opening act.

Plenty of dancers at Galant ended up entwined with Srixby's elite. But Lennon figured that wasn't Hadley's aim -at least, not yet.

Hadley offered a polite smile, though inside, she sighed. "He is in for a rude awakening." By the light of day, Hadley made her way to the sanatorium, a ritual she had carved out amidst her bustling routine.

Nyla still couldn't wrangle a proper bath, so Hadley took it upon herself m to swing by each day. She would help serub away the grand slip Nyla into crisp, fresh clothes with a tenderness that spoke volumes. The nurses could handle it, no doubt, but Nyla found a rare kind of peace in Hadley's fam warm blanket on a chilly evening.

touch, like a "Hadley, you're an absolute angel," Nyla murmured, now snug in clean pajamas, her spirits lifted like a kite on a breezy afternoon.

She gave Hadley's hand a gentle pat, her eyes softening. "But look at you-skinny as a rail! You're running yourself ragged looking after me." "No sweat off my back." Hadley shot back with a playful grin. "I've always been this thin." Hadley scooped up the bundle of dirty laundry with a deft hand. “I'll drop these off with the nurse." "Alright, dear," Nyla replied, her voice a soft echo in the quiet room.

No sooner had Hadley stepped out than her phone buzzed to life on the bedside table, rattling against the wood.

Nyla's eyes darted to the screen, where the nLawyer Mr. Haywood glowed like a beacon.

Cristian Haywood? Wait a second! Could that be the sCristian Haywood she knew? Cristian was a big fish in Srixby's legal pond, the Flynn family's go-to man for all things law and order. Why on earth was he ringing up Hadley? Cristian didn't take just any case-he was the kind people called when the stakes were sky-high. Was Hadley caught up in skind of mess? Why hadn't Hadley breathed a word of it? Nyla's mind churned. Hadley had no kin to speak of and had always leaned on the Flynn family. What kind of trouble could have possibly snared her? With her curiosity piling up, Nyla made up her mind in a heartbeat. She snatched Hadley's phone from the bedside table and answered the call.

68.4% 19:21 0 < Chapter 38 Hooked Like A Fish On A Line

"Hello, Hadley." Cthe voice on the other end, smooth as polished glass. "I was wondering when you might have a moment to spare. The a divorce papers have been gathering dust on my desk, and we need your signature to tie up the property transfers and alimony arrangements once and for all." Nyla held her tongue, her face clouding over as the words sank in deeper than she had expected.

"Hello? Hadley, are you there? Can you hear me?" The voice pressed, tinged with patience.

Nyla didn't utter a peep. Instead, she ended the call with a firm press of her thumb, her thoughts racing Without missing a beat, she reached for her own phone and punched in Eric's number, her fingers trembling ever so slightly as the line began to ring.

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