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

Chapter 39 Nyla's Objection "Grandma?" Eric's voice filtered through the phone, tinged with confusion from his cluttered office. "Is everything okay?" "You've really done it this time!" Nyla's voice was shaking with anger. "Get over here now!" With that, she ended the call.

Just then, Hadley reentered the room from dropping the dirty laundry, only to find Ny "Grandma, what's happened? Are you not feeling well?" bly upset.

"Hadley." Nyla reached out, grasping her hand, tears streaking her face. "Why didn't you tellwhat you've been going through?" She thrust Hadley's phone towards her, her voice wobbling. "Cristian has been calling nonstop about the divorce papers!" A chill ran through Hadley, her dread was evident.

Eric, puzzled and anxious, arrived swiftly. “Grandma, what's the emergency?" He was still piecing together the situation.

Eric's expression shifted to one of unease as he observed Nyla, who appeared unharmed but visibly upset, and Hadley, who stood silent and tense.

Nyla's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding, saying, "Eric, chere now!" "Understood." The urgency in his grandmother's voice was something Eric couldn't overlook, prompting him to drop all his plans and rush to her side.

"Grandma..." Eric tried to speak as he approached. But no sooner had he cclose than a sharp slap landed across his face, taking him completely by surprise.

It was Nyla who had struck him, her expression stern.

"Grandma?" Eric, bewildered and rubbing his cheek, stared at Nyla. "Why did you hit me?" "You brat! That's why!" Nyla's stern expression was one Eric hadn't seen in years, giving him an uneasy feeling. "You think you can just do whatever you want now? Mr. Flynn?" 0.0% O ||| 19:21 < < Chapter 39 Nyla's Objection "Grandma, I don't understand. What's the issue?" Eric was genuinely confused. Nyla had stepped back from the company's daily operations and left household decisions to Linda long ago.

"Grandma, could you clarify what you mean..." Then, realization hit Eric. His gaze quickly shifted to Hadley, who was standing there, conspicuously silent, deliberately avoiding eye contact.

Hadley kept her eyes downcast, unwilling to meet Eric's gaze.

"Hadley, is it you?" Eric snapped, his voice growing harsher.

"Stop right there!” Nyla interjected sharply, her voice booming like a sudden storm. “How dare you speak to Hadley that way? You're the one who pushed her away. How is this her fault?" The truth was now apparent.

Eric's features stiffened with the unfolding reality. He fixed a hard stare on Hadley. "What happened to the agreement we had? You promised me, and now you're going behind my back? Bringing complaints to Grandma? 1 Nyla was already aware of the situation, so Eric saw no point in continuing to conceal it.

Hadley tried to speak, but the words failed her.

"What can I even say?" Hadley wondered silently.

It was never her intention for Nyla to discover things this way. Leaving her phone unattended had been a careless mistake; but she really should have been more careful and kept her phone with her.

"I'm sorry," Hadley said softly, her head bowing.

"Now you're sorry?" Eric's laughter was sharp and mocking. "Now Grandma's distressed. What if she falls ill because of this stress? Can you handle that?" "Stop it!" Nyla interjected forcefully, positioning herself between them. "If there's any stress, it'll be because of you, Eric, not Hadley!" "Grandma..." Eric's voice faltered, overwhelmed by frustration. Whose side was she really on? "A divorce, really?" Nyla's voice trembled, her eyes starting to tear up. "Eric, you promised me. Yes, Hadley has made her mistakes, but we sent her away for four years! Wasn't that punishment enough?" "Grandma," Eric said, his hand massaging his forehead as he tried to formulate a defense. "You always take her side. Have you ever considered that maybe I just don't want to be with her?" "Then who is it that you do want?" Nyla retorted, her eyes piercing through him.

"1..." Words escaped Eric at that moment.

Nyla let out a soft, cold chuckle, though she held back slightly, careful not to humiliate her grandson too openly.

21.6% 19:21 ||| O < "You accuseof forcing you into marriage with Hadley. But weren't you the one who agreed to it? Didn't you nod and say yes?" It was true; Nyla had always envisioned Hadley as a good match for Eric, but she would never have pushed him into it without his consent.

Eric stiffened as Nyla brought up the past, realizing he could not refute her words.

His complexion paled, and he nodded reluctantly. "Yes..." Without hesitation, he tried to qualify his statement, saying, "That was my mistake. I never should have..." "Eric," Nyla interjected sharply, cutting off his excuses. "You're not a child anymore. It's tto accept the consequences of your actions. Hadley was your choice as a wife. Are you really going to just walk away from her now? Do you see her as someone disposable? Should your error condemn her to unhappiness forever?" Eric found himself without a rebuttal.

His only option was to bow his head in silence.

"I refuse to accept this," Nyla said with resolve. "As long as I breathe, I cannot accept such a thoughtless divorce!" "Grandma." Eric attempted to explain. "It's clear we're not a match..." Nyla dismissed his reasoning. "How much thave you spent together, really? Barely two months as a married couple before she departed. You won't know if you're compatible until you give it a real chance!" At that moment, Nyla grabbed at her chest over her heart.

"Grandma!" "Nyla!" In a flurry of concern, Eric and Hadley hurried to her side, offering their support.

"Call the doctor immediately!" "Right away!" Hadley exclaimed, dashing off.

"Eric." Nyla grasped her grandson's hand firmly. "Your treatment of Hadley isn't fair... I know you still hold her responsible for what happened to Linda's child, and trust me, her loss e painstoo... But it was an accident. Hadley isn't malicious in nature. Remember, she saved my life.

Please, reconsider how you're treating her. Promise me, Eric, promise me... "I hear you, I do." At that moment, what choice did Eric have? He squeezed Nyla's hand in affirmation and nodded. “Rest easy, Grandma. I'll honor your wishes. I promise.” The doctor arrived promptly, administered an injection to Nyla, and completed his examination.

"It's nothing serious, merely a spike in emotional stress. Still, try to avoid such stress in the future." "Got it." 52.0% 19:21 O < "Thanks for your help, doctor." Following the injection, Nyla drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Leaving the room, Eric was closely followed by Hadley.

"Eric." Hadley mustered her bravery to break the silence.

"Yes?" Eric responded, his gaze cold and distant. In his eyes, she had beca betrayer, someone who had deceived him.

"Say your piece directly toand keep Grandma out of it next time."

Hadley's heart constricted, yet she held back her retort. "Today was an oversight on my plant, my pan, but it won't impede our separation. I'm still prepared to proceed when you are..."

"Stop," Eric interjected, his patience worn thin by her seemingly rehearsed speech, "Sparethe act. We both know a divorce isn't possible right now, so why even say that?" Silence fell as Hadley struggled to find the right words.

It was truly an unfortunate coincidence, leaving her without a plausible explanation.

Eric scoffed dismissively, eying her with a cold gaze. "Why cling tolike this? What do you gain from it?" He didn't wait for her to respond and strode away.

Rooted to the spot, Hadley massaged her temples, overwhelmed by her own misfortune.

That evening at Galant.

Eric was absent.

Following her performance, Hadley walked backstage to see the doorway to her dressing room overrun with bouquets.

"Hadley!" Lennon approached with a flourish, visibly thrilled. “Look at this spectacle! These blossoms, and more inside- all courtesy of Mr. Flynn!"