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

Chapter 192 Who Does She

Think She Is

As Eric turned to leave, Hadley remained seated, staring blankly ahead.

A strange hollowness settled over her after her outburst. Everything had escalated too quickly, unraveling into

something ugly and exhausting

He was gone... And he probably wasn’t coming back.

Being his shield wasn’t easy-especially when it meant watching Eric and his brother's woman act so close, so

intimate

Sighing, Hadley closed her eyes for a brief moment, whispering a silent prayer.

If fate ever decided to bless her with a child... Maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't have to endure moments like

this anymore.

Eric's expression was grim as he descended the stairs.

Linda immediately noticed. She accepted the clothes from his hands, her lips curving into a knowing smile. “Is

she upset that you're lettingstay here?”

Eric exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “No.”

But the tightness in his chest told a different story,

Linda let out a sneer, eyes flickering with amusement. “Don’t bother lying to me-I know she’s upset.”

She tossed the clothes onto her arm, lips curling in distaste. “But why should she be upset?”

Her voice turned sharp, biting, “When | met you, she probably wasn’t even born yet. What right does she have to

feel anything?”

Linda scoffed, crossing her arms. “Who does she think she is? She’s not even your wife. And even if she were -

she'd have no right to treatlike this.”

The more she spoke, the deeper the irritation etched into Eric’s face.

“Linda, it's late” His voice was clipped, sharp. “Get srest.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and strode toward the stairs.

Linda froze. Was he... mad at her? Or was he just eager to go back upstairs? To Hadley?

Linda’s grip tightened around the fabric in her hands, knuckles turning white as her gaze followed Eric's

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retreating figure.

Hadley, this is all your fault!” she murmured.

Hadley never imagined Eric would return-let alone so soon.

He didn’t bother switching on the light. Instead, he slipped into bed beside her in the darkness, long arms curling

protectively around her.

She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes, catching a faint blend of perfand disinfectant on him.

At last, she spoke. “Could you sleep in the other room tonight?”

Rather than letting go, he just tightened his hold. “This is my bed. | belong here.”

Hadley abruptly sat up. “Please, just for tonight. Just one night... I'm asking you.”

“Hadley...” Eric switched on the bedside lamp, shadows dancing across his face. “It's late. How long are we

going to keep doing this?”

“I'm not trying to cause trouble,” she murmured, taking another calming breath. “But there's a smell on you- it's

bothering me. | can’t sleep.”

“What smell?” he said, tugging at his pajama collar and inhaling deeply. “I don’t smell anything weird.”

Of course he wouldn’t-why would Linda’s perfsmell off to him?

Hadley regarded him in silence.

Eric's face fell, clearly annoyed, as though she were starting a fight for no reason.

After a pause, he controlled his irritation and relented. “Fine. I'll take a shower.”

But as he headed for the bathroom, Hadley seized her pillow and dashed out of the room.

If Eric wouldn't leave, then she would.

She refused to share a bed with him tonight.

“Hadley!”

He spun around, just a second too late to stop her from slipping into the adjacent room and slamming the

door shut.

“Hadley!”

He ran after her and twisted the knob, but she’d already locked it.

“What's going on?”

Linda appeared at the top of the stairs, concern in her voice.

Amid the clamor, Linda had heard it all.

Catching sight of Eric stranded in the hallway, she quickly grasped the situation, letting out a caustic laugh.

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Chapter 192 Who Does She Think She is

“Does she always treat you like this?”

Eric’s face was set in a grim expression, neither confirming nor denying “It’s just a misunderstanding,” he said.

“Misunderstanding?” Linda repeated with a bitter smirk. “No, it’s not even that-it’s more like a one-sided

argument.

“Linda” Eric's tone dropped in warning, his brow creasing in displeasure. “Don’t talk about her that way. Hadley

isn’t irrational. If she misunderstood something, there’s a reason for it.”

He had to admit-Linda held a special place in his life.

But for Hadley, that brand of “special” was an entirely different language.

“You're taking her side even though she’s acting like this?” Linda asked, taken aback.

Once her initial surprise faded, a strange twinge of hurt welled up inside her, something she couldn't quite

name

“Eric.” Linda's voice slipped into a soft laugh. “Are you actually in love with Hadley?”

Love?

For a moment, Eric looked as though he’d been struck.

What was love? It was a word too heavy to toss around casually.

Rather than answering directly, he sidestepped. “Hadley’s my girlfriend. Of course I'd make allowances for her.”

He really said that?

The corners of Linda’s mouth lifted into a taut, chilly smile.

He seemed to have forgotten that Hadley was once his wife-someone he certainly hadn't cared for this much

back then.

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He'd changed.

Suddenly, Linda felt a pang of regret-maybe urging Eric and Hadley to stay keep Ernest close hadn't been such a

good plan after all.

together in order to

Eric barely managed to rest that night.

He rose early and wandered downstairs, only to find Linda awake even sooner.

“Tric, you're up?” Linda called from the kitchen, giving him a warm wave. “Csit down-coffee’s ready.” He

pulled out a chair at the table, and Linda cover with a steaming mug “Have scoffee first. I'm making

breakfast. Toast with butter, eggs and bacon... You still like them, don’t you? It’s been ages since | last made any

for you

“You're making breakfast? Eric echoed, setting aside the coffee he'd just lifted to his lips. “What tdid you get

up?

“I couldn't really sleep,” Linda said, offering a wry smile. “I saw we had everything we needed in the

Chapter 192 Who Does She Think The

I decided to make us breakfast.”

Eric nodded. “With Hadley staying here, it's simpler to cook at home.”

Normally, he’d just eat out when he was by himself.

At those words, Linda's smile tightened ever so slightly.

Linda let out a gentle sigh. “You're so considerate toward Hadley... Ernest never bothered with the little things

like that for me.”

She had spent so many years by Ernest's side. True, he was accommodating-but only if she voiced her needs.

When she looked back on it, he almost never took the initiative to anticipate what she might want.

Erie noticed the sadness in Linda’s eyes. “Don’t dwell on it. Your situation with Ernest is different. Aren't you in

charge of the Flynn family’s finances?”

Eric believed that because she held the purse strings, she rarely had to go through Ernest to get what she

needed.

“No... Linda shook her head, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “It’s not about money. It's about the gesture-

showingthat he cares. Sometimes... | don’t think Ernest worries aboutnearly as much as you

do.”

100 DN