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

Chapter 50 Hadley, Don’t

You Dare!

“Yes,”

Mathias didn’t dance around the truth. Over the years, he had witnessed Hadley’s struggles unfold right before

his eyes.

“Joy’s nfinally made it onto the list!”

Hadley froze. For a moment, it was as if the world had stopped spinning, Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears,

their weight pressing against her resolve.

She clenched her fists, willing herself not to break. “Th-thank you, Dr. Williams.”

Emotion swelled in her chest, so vast that words felt like a foreign concept.

“Why are you thanking me?” Mathias chuckled.

“I hardly lifted a finger. You are the one who's been running yourself ragged. Now, once the surgery is done, Joy

will finally be free from this agony.”

“Yes... that is right.”

“Speaking of which,” Mathias added, his voice steady, “you’ll need to gather the surgery fees fast.”

Hadley’s heart lurched.

The corners of her mouth, which had barely begun to lift, flattened again. Of course-the cost. That enormous,

suffocating weight still loomed over her.

“Roughly... how much?” she asked, her voice uneven.

“About five hundred thousand dollars,” Mathias answered without hesitation.

Five hundred thousand dollars!

She had braced herself for a hefty sum, had scrimped and saved every penny, but hearing the actual number

still sent a chill down her spine.

Balancing meals on the table for herself and Joy had always been an uphill battle-one that felt endless. The

monthly medical bills piled up like clockwork, as relentless as the tide.

Even with all her sacrifices, her savings were nothing more than a drop in the ocean.

Mathias knew bits and pieces of her financial struggles. “You better move quickly. The surgery could happen as

soon as two months or stretch out to six. There's no telling.”

19-29

As a doctor, his hands were tied beyond that.

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“I understand,” Hadley murmured.

When the call ended, she found herself teetering on the edge of hope and despair.

Joy finally had a chance! A real chance at healing! But the money... Two months, six tops.

Where on earth was she supposed to find that kind of cash?

Despite her hectic schedule, Hadley carved out tto visit Nyla at the sanatorium.

Day by day, Nyla was growing stronger.

“Hadley, you came.” There was warmth in Nyla’s voice, and a touch of color had returned to her face.

“Nyla.”

As Hadley stepped inside, she noticed another presence-Eric.

It had been their first encounter since that explosive argument at Galant.

“Come, sit.”

Nyla took Hadley’s hand, a gentle smile gracing her lips. “I am feeling much better. Before you know it, | will be

back home. You have been worrying yourself sick over me.”

“lI am fine...”

“Fine? Look at you!” Nyla gave her a scrutinizing once-over. “You've only been back in Srixby for what-a few

weeks? And you've already shrunk to half your size.”

Eric, who had been silent, flicked his gaze toward Hadley.

His mind wandered to her cramped little place on West Twelfth Alley. No matter how many times he thought

about it, he couldn't make sense of it. Why did she insist on living like that?

A dry chuckle slipped past his lips.

Lost weight? “Serves her right,” Eric mused bitterly. She had no one to blbut herself.

“What are you laughing at?”

Nyla’s sharp ears caught him off guard.

“Grandma, I...” Eric hesitated, clearing his throat awkwardly. “It’s nothing.”

Nyla pointed a firm finger at him. “Before you leave, take sof these back for Hadley.”

During her stay, visitors had showered her with gifts.

The room was practically bursting at the seams with them. She had already shared plenty with the doctors and

nurses, but there was still an overwhelming amount left.

Hadley quickly shook her head. “Nyla, | do not need them.”

“They are for you. Take them.”

Nyla refused to hear otherwise. “I chose things that will do you good-food, daily necessities. Do not let them go

to waste. Eric will help bring them back to Silver Villas.”

In her mind, Hadley still lived at Silver Villas.

After all, Eric had more properties than he needed, so if anyone had to move after the separation, it certainly

wouldn't have been her.

Hadley knew that declining too forcefully might tip Nyla off. With a reluctant nod, she relented. “Thank you. |

will take them, then.”

“Why are you acting like we are strangers?”

Nyla then turned to Eric with a glare. “Did you hear what | just said? Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?

Have you lost your tongue?”

“I heard you loud and clear.” Eric begrudgingly acknowledged her words, his voice laced with a reluctance he

made no effort to hide. “No need to fret, Grandma. | will make sure both she and the things arrive hsafely.

Is that enough?”

Beneath the surface, Eric sneered. Did Hadley really care about any of this?

After a while, Hadley and Eric rose to leave together.

They loaded the gifts into the trunk of Eric's car, each item a small weight added to a growing burden.

In silence, they drove to West Twelfth Alley, Eric at the wheel and Hadley nestled in the back seat.

When they reached the alley entrance, the car rolled to a stop.

With a sullen demeanor, Eric silently unloaded the items from the trunk, setting them down on the asphalt.

“Thank you.” Hadley noticed his irritated expression. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Just leave

them here. I'll manage.”

Eric's mood darkened further.

She planned on carrying them herself?

Hauling such heavy loads over a long stretch and up the stairs? It was impossible to do in one trip.

Did she really think he was just a useless spectator?

Ignoring his inner turmoil, Hadley bent down to grab the items.

Suddenly, a voice called out to her.

“Hadley!”

Looking up, Hadley’s smile blossomed. “Oh, it's you!”

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Eric squinted at the newcomer-a slender, average-looking guy who rolled in on a bike.

Hadley was smiling at him? Did she know this guy? What was their story?

The bike pulled to a stop. The guy dismounted and turned to Hadley. “Perfect timing! | was just about to drop off

sflour for you, but | wasn’t sure you'd be home.”

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He owned the nearby grocery store where Hadley picked up her groceries, even offering delivery services.

Hadley laughed lightly. “Talk about a lucky break!”

The guy pulled a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and handed it to her. “Here you go.”

Eric's gaze seared into them. He thought, “Hadley, don’t you dare!”

But Hadley did dare.

“Thank you.” Her eyes crinkled with delight as she popped the lollipop into her mouth.

Eric’s jaw clenched tightly.

Did she think he was invisible?

“Tastes good, right?” The guy grinned, hefting a sack of flour. “I'll carry

this up

for you...”

Then he noticed Eric and the mountain of boxes. “Hadley, what's all this?”

“Oh,” Hadley replied, not bothering to introduce Eric. She simply gestured toward the boxes. “These are mine. I'll

take care of them.”

“No way.”

The guy protested, concern etched on his face. “You're a small thing. How much can you lift? Lethelp!”

He bent down and grabbed a bag of fruit.

“Hey, you don’t have to...”

“Put it down!” Eric’s voice cut through the air, his hand gripping the guy’s shoulder.

His eyes blazed with a dark intensity that Hadley struggled to decipher.

What was eating at him?

Eric shot the guy a frigid glare. “You heard me. Put it down.”

“Okay.”

The guy, shaken by Eric's commanding presence, swallowed hard and set the bag back on the ground. “And that

too,” Eric added, nodding at the flour sack still resting on the guy’s shoulder. “Put it down.”