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

Too Late, Mr Billionaire: You Cant AffordNow

Chapter 189 Is This How

You Treat Eric

Quentin gave a slight nod. “Regarding that matter...”

Ernest listened in silence, his expression darkening with each passing moment. His brow furrowed, thoughts

turning over as Quentin relayed the details..

By the tQuentin finished speaking. Ernest took a deep breath and gave a slow nod. “Understood. It's late-

you should get srest.”

“Yes, Mr. Flynn.”

As the door closed behind Quentin, Ernest wheeled himself toward the bedroom, his mind still clouded with

thought.

Reaching the bedside, he paused, and then slowly pulled open the nightstand drawer. Inside, lay a small, aged

box

He took it out, his fingers brushing over its surface before lifting the lid. There it was-the tortoiseshell hairpin His

fingers traced over its smooth, polished surface, absentmindedly rubbing the intricate patterns carved into

“Ernest?”

He turned his head just as Linda stepped inside, a cup of warm milk in her hands,

“I thought you were asleep,” she said softly. “I knocked, but you didn’t answer. What are you”

Her voice abruptly cut off.

Her expression shifted the moment she saw what was in his hand!

Ernest tensed. Without thinking, his fingers closed tightly around the hairpin, trying to conceal it from view. But it

was already too late.

“What are you hiding?” she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

Linda’s expression turned ice-cold as she stepped forward, her voice sharp with accusation. “I saw it, Ernest!

Don’t bother hiding it.” Her free hand clenched at her side as she glared at him. “Didn’t you say you threw it

away? Why is it still here?”

“Calm down,” Ernest said evenly, though his frown deepened. “I haven't forgotten what | promised you.”

“It doesn’t seem like it!

Linda let out a strained laugh, though there was nothing amused about it. Her voice wavered-on the edge of

breaking, teetering between anger and pain.

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< Chapter 189 Is This How You Treat Enc

“Ernest, | have endured so much for you! I've swallowed my pride, made compromises | never thought But that

doesn’t mean you can keep testinglike this?”

Before he could react, she lunged at him. “You promisedyou'd get rid of it! This thing shouldn't exis”

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Her fingers clawed for his hand, desperate to snatch the tortoiseshell hairpin from his grip

But Ernest was ready for her. Anticipating the move, he swiftly lifted his arm, blocking her with just enough force

to stop her. “Calm down, Linda"

The momentum sent Linda stumbling backward. The cup of steaming milk in her hand slipped, tilting violently

“Linda” Ernest's breath caught. He had only meant to stop her-he hadn’t meant for this.

Panic shot through him as he wheeled forward, reaching out toward her. “Are you alright? Letseedid your

arm get burned?”

Linda sat there on the floor, her gaze unfocused, staring blankly at the spilled milk.

Then, a hollow laugh escaped her lips-soft, bitter, devoid of warmth.

“Ernest...” Her voice cracked. “How could you do this to me?”

She scrambled to her feet, clutching her burned arm. Without sparing him another glance, she turned and bolted

out of the room.

“Linda!”

Ernest pushed his wheelchair forward, trying to go after her but how could he possibly catch up? Frustration

clawed at him. With a sharp breath, he snatched up his phone and dialed. “Quentin, it's me.”

That night, Srixby was coated in a thin veil of sleet, the air damp and heavy with gloom.

After returning from the golf course, neither Eric nor Hadley had any intention of stepping outside again. They

had settled into a comfortable routine-after dinner, Hadley connected her phone to the TV, picking up where she

had left off in her show.

As the minutes passed, restlessness stirred within Eric. He shifted closer, pressing warm, lingering kisses from

the crown of her head downward.

“Hadley,” he murmured against her skin, his voice low and coaxing “How about tonight? It's been days.”

Before she could even react

The doorbell rang

Hadley bit back a smile “Guess that’s your answer.

She nudged him lightly “That's definitely for you Go see who it is.”

Reluctantly, Eric untangled himself from her warmth and got up.

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Chapter 189 Is This How You Treat Eric

Who the hell could it be at this hour? And in this weather?

With a scowl, he strode toward the door and swung it open..

“Linda? What-"

Before he could say another word, Linda rushed inside. Her eyes were red and swollen, her face pale from the

cold.

The second she saw Eric, her composure crumbled entirely-tears streamed down her face. “Eric...”

Linda took two firm steps forward and collapsed into his arms.

Eric stiffened. His arms shot up instinctively, his entire body turning rigid with shock. “Linda, you-"

His voice was strained, confused. His mind scrambled for the right words.

“Who is it?” A cool, composed voice cut through the moment.

Hadley walked over, arms crossed, her long hair cascading over one shoulder, a slow, knowing smirk playing at

her lips.

Eric immediately panicked. Cold sweat prickled at his skin. “Hadley..

He raised his hands, as if to say he had no idea what was going on and why Linda was holding him.

Hadley tilted her head slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes.

Her chuckle was soft, mocking. She deliberately lowered her voice, drawing out the words. “Should | give you

two sprivacy?”

Hearing her, Linda stiffened. She finally lifted her head from Eric's chest.

“You...” Linda blurted, clearly caught off guard. “What are you doing here?”

“Excuse me?” Hadley arched an eyebrow, her smile deepening, “Why wouldn't | be?”

“Linda,” Eric interjected quickly, his voice firm. “Hadley is my girlfriend.”

Linda's lips pressed together. “I know.”

Of course, she knew. But seeing it-watching the way Eric stood next to Hadley, realizing they were living under

the sroof-it was something else entirely. Were they living together?

Hadley let out a quiet, icy laugh, her gaze flickering toward Eric with an unreadable expression. “So, your darling

seems to think | don’t belong here.” She tilted her chin at him. “Should | get out of your way?”

Then, without waiting for a response, she turned and pointed toward the staircase. “Fine, I'll just head upstairs

then.”

A second later, she paused, reconsidering “Actually no. I think I should just leave.”

After all, his precious sweetheart was here now. What was she still doing hanging around?

With an exaggerated nod of understanding, Hadley spun on her heel and strode toward the entrance. “Okay,

bye...”

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Chapter 189 is This How You Treat

“Hadley!” Eric reacted instantly, grabbing her wrist, panic lacing his voice. “Don’t be like this.......”

Hadley turned back with wide, innocent eyes, “Like what? I'm just giving you two sspace that you very

much need. Isn't that what you want?”

“Hadley, please just...”

Linda, who had been silent for a moment, snapped.

Watching Hadley toy with the situation so effortlessly only made her angrier.

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“Hadley, that’s enough!” Linda snapped, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. “Is this how you treat

“What?”

Hadley casually shook off Linda's outburst, her tone laced with amusement. “Then enlighten me-how should |

treat him?”

Linda scoffed, her sharp gaze burning into Hadley like she was trying to tear through her composure.

“From the moment | walked in, every word out of your mouth has been nothing but mockery toward him!” inda’s

voice trembled with frustration. “And this isn’t even the first time! This is the second tyou've pulled this in

front of me! Do you not have the slightest respect for your own boyfriend?”

Hadley gasped theatrically, clutching her chest in faux alarm. “Oh my, Linda! Why would you think that? Are you

saying that Eric liking you is an insult to him?”

“Hadley!”

“Hadley!”

Both Linda and Eric spoke at the stime.

Hadley blinked in exaggerated innocence. “Goodness,” she said, feigning exasperation. “I'm not deaf, you know.

No need to shout ”

Linda’s patience snapped. “Enough with the act, Hadley.”

Her hands clenched into fists as she stared Hadley down. “Eric and | grew up together-we’re closer than just

ordinary friends! Maybe you don’t understand that kind of bond, but at the very least, have the decency not to

insult it!”

“You really are something else

Hadley exhaled, shaking her head with a half-smile, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.

“Didn’t | just step aside to give you two sspace? And now you're accusingof insulting him... So tell me,

Linda-what exactly do you want?”

“Hadley, that’s enough!”

Eric's voice finally cut through the tension

His grip tightened around Hadley’s wrist, his expression darkening-not quite angry, but strained, as if trying to

keep his patience in check. “Go upstairs and wait for me.”

Chapter 189 Is This How You Treat Tric

Hadley arched an eyebrow. “Are you sure you wantto stay?”

“Hadley!” This time, Eric's voice held a sharper edge, his tone leaving no room for argument

She sighed tically, throwing up her hands, “Tine, fine.” With an indifferent shrug, she stepped back. “Til be

upstairs then.”

She was just about to turn when-

The doorbell rang again.

Linda’s entire body tensed, her fingers clamping onto Eric’s arm like a vice. Panic flashed in her eyes. “Eric!

Don’t open the door! Don’t let him in-I don’t want to see him!”

Too Late Mr Billionare You Cant AffordNo