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

Chapter 120 Keeping Him Worried

Under the dim lighting. Hadley’s complexion turned ghostly pale.

Her eyes flicked to Elvin, and then to Adonis.

Neither of them spoke, but their looks said enough-they were silently telling her to endure Wayne.

Elvin’s words in the elevator echoed in her mind. Taking a slow breath, Hadley forced herself to move, hesitantly

placing her hand in Wayne's.

A burst of laughter escaped Wayne, his amusement evident. But instead of simply holding her hand, he

tightened his grip and yanked her forward, smoothly shifting his arm until it wrapped around her waist.

The instant his arm locked in place, Hadley’s entire body stiffened.

Her fingers curled into tight fists, her nails pressing sharply into her palms.

“How old are you? And what's your college major?”

“I'm twenty-four...” Her voice cout faint, barely above a whisper. “I studied modern dance.”

“A dancer, huh?” Wayne's gaze dragged over her. “No wonder you've got such a fantastic figure.”

Wayne lifted his glass toward Hadley with a smirk. “Con. Let’s have a drink to celebrate our meeting.”

AEBean”

Hadley took the glass, her fingers trembling slightly as she gripped it. Her pulse pounded in her ears. “Mr.

Walters, aren't you going to drink with me?”

Wayne waved a hand dismissively. “You first. And I'll finish the rest. That makes us look close, doesn’t it?”

His lighthearted tone drew chuckles from the men around them.

Hadley remained frozen in place, still clutching the glass. A subtle tremor ran through her.

“Go on, drink.” Wayne's voice held a teasing lilt. “No need to be so tense. I'm not forcing you to finish it all... I'm

known for spoiling beautiful women, you know.”

As he spoke, his hand slid around her waist.

Hadley tightened her grip on the glass, forcing herself to believe that if she just drank, he might finally let her

go.

But just as she brought the glass to her lips, she stiffened in shock.

Wayne's hand was drifting lower, creeping down her thigh.

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Chapter 120 Keeping Him Worried

That was it. Hadley’s composure, already hanging by a thread, snapped.

She had been forcing herself to endure his touch, to stay silent, to play along

But this this was something no woman should ever be expected to tolerate.

Before anyone could react, she hurled the drink straight into Wayne's face without a second thought.

“You little-!"

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Wine streamed down Wayne's cheeks, dripping from his chin. His face twisted with rage as he shot to his feet,

cursing furiously.

With a sharp swipe, he dragged the back of his hand across his face, and then lunged for Hadley.

“You bitch!”

The room rang with the sharp crack of glass breaking.

Hadley had slammed the glass against the table's edge.

Shards scattered to the floor, leaving her with nothing but the jagged stem clutched tightly in her fist.

Her eyes burned with fury as she raised it, the sharp tip pointed directly at Wayne. “Stay back! Don’t you dare

cnear me!”

“Hadley!”

Elvin sprang forward, alarm flashing across his face as he reached for her.

“Don’t touch me! Stay away, all of you!”

Hadley was beyond reason now, her entire body wound tight with raw defiance.

She kept the broken glass raised, ready to strike at anyone who dared approach.

Wayne threw his head back with a laugh, his amusement edged with malice. “Look at this crazy bitch! You think

that’s gonna stop me?”

“Don’t cany closer...”

Hadley frantically shook her head, her grip tightening around the broken stem until the jagged edges dug into

her fingers. Crimson streaks welled up, stark against her skin.

“I'm on my way over!”

Wayne's voice dripped with arrogance as he stormed forward, closing the distance in two long strides. He

grabbed Hadley’s wrist with a rough jerk. “What now, sweetheart?”

Hadley’s vision blurred. Her breath cin uneven gasps, and her grip on the broken glass wavered. She looked

as if she might collapse at any second.

“Well, this is interesting.”

A slow, amused chuckle rippled through the silence.

Every head turned sharply toward the voice.

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Eric, who had been lounging on a row of couches in the corner, rose at an unhurried pace.

“Mr. Flynn?”

“Mr. Flynn...”

The shift in atmosphere was immediate. In an instant, Wayne and the others wiped away their prior expressions,

replacing them with carefully measured, fawning smiles. “Mr. Flyrm, apologies for the commotion,”

one of them quickly offered.

Tonight was supposed to be a business gathering-a discussion about a new project.

Since the production was backed by East Entertainment Media, a subsidiary of the Flynn Group, Eric’s presence

wasn't unusual.

He had only shown up as a formality, nothing more.

The finer details of the project were left in the hands of the producers.

Eric had taken a quiet seat in the corner, intending to stay just long enough before making his exit. Yet, in that

brief window of time, he had stumbled upon quite the spectacle.

Eric moved forward with deliberate strides, not sparing Wayne even a passing glance. His attention remained

locked onto Hadley.

His expression was unreadable, a mixture of emotions flickering beneath the surface.

What could he even say?

It had only been a few days, and yet here she was, tangled up in chaos once again.

Hadley stood frozen as Eric approached, her mind still a complete blank. She felt as though she knew this man -

and at the stime, as if he were a stranger.

Her lips parted slightly, her breath coming quick and uneven.

SR

Eric let out an exaggerated sigh, rubbing his forehead as if exhausted by the entire ordeal.

“I'm feeling lightheaded. | should get going.”

“Of course,” Wayne responded immediately, seizing the opportunity to show deference. “Mr. Flynn, allowto

escort you

out.”

“No need to trouble you.” Eric waved him off without hesitation, and then, without breaking stride, pointed at

Hadley. “She’ll walkout.”

The meaning behind his words was crystal clear.

No one in the room needed further explanation-Eric had taken an interest in Hadley.

That alone left no room for objections.

Wayne nodded eagerly, tilting his head toward Hadley. “Well? Didn't you hear Mr. Flynn? Get moving!” Even

Adonis, who had been watching tensely from the sidelines, knew there was nothing he could do now. Hadley had

already made enough waves tonight. If she dared to provoke Eric, it wouldn't just be her career on

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the line-her entire future in this city could be crushed in an instant.

“What are you standing there for?”

Eric’s sharp gaze flickered toward Hadley before he reached out, his fingers curling around her wrist. His grip was

firm, and the warmth of his touch barely registered through the sting of her wounds.

“Let's go!”

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With that, he pulled her with him, leading her straight out the door.

Behind them, Elvin wiped the sweat from his brow, his voice unsteady. “Will she be alright?”

Even Adonis, who usually had an answer for everything, could only furrow his brows, exhaling slowly. “Hard to

say. But at least it's Eric. That's still better than...”

There was no doubt that Eric was the better one compared to Wayne.

Elvin clenched his fists, guilt gnawing at him. He was the one who had pulled Hadley into this world, introducing

her to the people in it. He could only hope that tonight wouldn't turn into a mistake he would

regret forever.

Eric didn’t release Hadley’s hand until they were outside.

From the moment they left the private lounge, she hadn't resisted, walking beside Eric in silence. Bit by bit, she

had managed to steady her breathing, pulling herself together. Then, just as she was about to speak-

“You...”

Eric suddenly spun around, lifting a finger and pointing it straight at her. “You got yourself kicked out of the

troupe, and now you think you can just waltz into places like this? Do you have the slightest clue what kind of

world you're stepping into?”

His voice was sharp, laced with frustration.

If Eric hadn’t been there when he was, Wayne had more than enough ways to impose his will on a woman.

Hadley would have faced real danger.

Hadley bowed her head without saying a word.

Hadley was grateful that Eric had stepped in, but there was nothing left for her to say. He had been right there.

He had witnessed everything with his own eyes.

Eric had been prepared to say more, ready to lecture her for what had happened, but before a single word could

leave his mouth, his attention was drawn to the crimson streaks trailing down her fingers.

His chest grew tight. “Why do you keep makingworry like this?”

He took a step forward, trying to get a closer look at her hand.

“Does it hurt? Letsee.”

But before he could so, Hadley jerked her hand away, unwilling to let him examine it.

Eric's expression darkened in an instant. “You won't even lettake a look? Do you think | do this because |

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Chapter 120 Keeping Him Worried

enjoy sticking my nose in your business?”

His voice was sharp, edged with frustration. “Fine if that's what you want, then | won't bother more

He turned on his heel, fully intending to leave.

But before he could take more than a few steps, something made him stop Letting out a slow breath, he glanced

back at her, his voice no longer holding the sbite. “I shouldn't have spoken to you like that

She had already been through enough.

He motioned toward her bleeding hand, this tspeaking with a steadiness that left no room for argument “You

need to have that taken care of. You understand that, don’t you?”