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

Chapter 221 | Won't Stop You Again

Of course, Hadley knew that Joy meant more to her than Eric ever could. How could he even compare?

But that wasn’t something she could say out loud.

She took a steadying breath, gripping her phone. “Where are you?” Pressing her lips together, she tried to

soothe him. “Let's talk in person, okay?”

On the other end of the line, Eric let out a low, self-mocking chuckle. “Where am 1?” he echoed, his tone laced

with bitterness. “Take a guess.”

Hadley exhaled softly. She didn’t need to guess-they had already agreed he’d pick her up from the dance studio.

“I understand.” Her brows furrowed slightly. “I'm coming over now. Just wait for me, alright?”

But Eric didn’t reply. The call ended in silence.

Without wasting another second, Hadley grabbed her things and rushed to the studio.

The moment Hadley arrived, her eyes immediately found Eric’s car parked by the curb.

She hurried over, reaching for the passenger door-it wasn’t locked. Without hesitation, she slipped inside.

The warm air from the heater wrapped around her.

Hadley took a deep breath, mentally bracing herself for what was to come.

“Speak” Eric's voice cut through the silence, low and sharp.

Turning his head, he fixed his piercing gaze on her. “Where were you? And why?”

Hadley faltered, still piecing together how to explain. “Something cup unexpectedly.”

“What kind of thing?” His voice darkened, his frustration evident. “That can’t possibly be your explanation!”

Hadley hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “It was my housemate... she needed something” seriously?”

Was that all she had to say?

A sharp scoff escaped Eric, his disbelief morphing into something colder, sharper. “I waited for you all night,

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< Chapter 2211 Won't Stop You Again

Hadley.” His tone was edged with restrained anger. “And you ditched me-for a housemate?”

NEF, (os

Hadley lowered her gaze, her fingers curling slightly in her lap.

She knew she had let him down. She had broken their plans, and he had every right to be upset.

And yet she couldn't risk pushing him too far right now.

So instead, she softened her voice, reaching for whatever fragile truce she could manage.

Hadley inhaled deeply, steadying herself before meeting Eric's gaze. Her voice was quiet, but sincere. “I'm sorry

for not showing up. It was my fault... I-”

“Save it.” Eric's voice sliced through her apology, sharp with frustration.

“Just tellthe truth, Hadley.” His eyes bore into her, unrelenting. “What was so important that you blew me

off? That you couldn’t even pick up the damn phone?”

Hadley’s fingers clenched in her lap. She averted her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. “I... | can’t tell

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you.”

Couldn't tell him? What kind of answer was that?

Something inside Eric snapped. His fingers instinctively tightened around her shoulders, not in anger, but in

sheer frustration.

“What am | to you, Hadley?” His voice was rough, unsteady-a storm barely contained. “You disappear on me,

ignoreall night-and | don’t even deserve a real answer? Do you have any idea-do you even know-"

How he had spent the last agonizing hours?

Caught between the gut-wrenching fear that something had happened to her and the fury that she had

completely disregarded their plans.

Torn between worrying about her safety and resenting her silence.

And now, after all that, she was refusing to even tell him why?

“Hadley, I'm your boyfriend. Do | mean nothing to you?” His voice dropped, raw with disappointment.

“Do my feelings not matter to you at all?”

For a moment, she said nothing. Then, in barely more than a whisper, she murmured, “I'm sorry. It was my

fault.”

That was it?

That was all?

Eric's lips curled into a cold, humorless chuckle-a hollow sound that carried no amusement, only resignation.

His expression shifted, his gaze hardening as if something inside him had finally given up.

“Do whatever you want.”

Eric released his grip on Hadley, his hands shifting to the steering wheel as he restarted the car.

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21:06

As the vehicle rolled forward, his voice finally broke the heavy silence. “Are you coming with me?”

Hadley, momentarily caught off guard, blinked before nodding quickly. “Of course.”

But even as she answered, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling curling in her chest. His tone was detached.

His expression-cold, unreadable. He was really angry.

The drive back to Silver Villas was silent. Eric didn’t look at her. Didn't speak. It was as if she wasn’t even there.

When they arrived, he parked the car and got out, walking straight inside-upstairs, without a single glance back.

Hadley sighed softly and then followed.

Upstairs, she expected him to head for the bedroom, but he didn’t. Instead, he went straight to the study.

She hesitated before following, stopping outside the door. Raising a hand, she knocked gently. “Eric?”

Silence.

Hadley swallowed, knocking again.

“Eric, | know | messed up tonight. Please don’t shutout-open the door, okay?”

Still, no response.

“Eric?”

Knock! Knock!

Inside, Eric stood by the liquor cabinet. He reached for a bottle of whiskey, twisting off the cap with a practiced

motion before pulling open the bottom drawer. From inside, he retrieved a pack of cigarettes. Lighting one, he

inhaled deeply, the burn of nicotine and alcohol settling into his system like an old habit.

Hadley had always nagged him about quitting drinking and smoking.

But why should he bother changing himself for someone who couldn’t even be honest with him? She didn’t care.

So why should he?

Just as he took another drag, he suddenly froze.

Had he imagined it?

No... he hadn't.

The hallway outside had gone completely silent.

Had she left? Just like that? So soon? Was that all the patience she had for him?

“Hadley!”

Eric’s breath cout ragged, frustration and anger tightening in his chest. With a sharp motion, he yanked off

his tie and tossed it aside, grabbed the bottle of whiskey and then took a long, burning drink.

The silence outside stretched.

With a heavy sigh, Eric Bank onto the sofa, rubbing his temples as his head pounded.

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Chapter 221 | Won't Stop You Again

What was she doing?

Had she already gone to bed?

Ha! What a heartless woman! He had done everything for her. Was it so much to ask for even the smallest effort

in return?

Just as he was about to take another swig, he suddenly heard a noise outside the door.

It wasn’t knocking. It was the sound of metal scraping against the lock

Frowning, he stilled, listening. Someone was trying different keys. Another click. Another failure.

Then, finally-A soft click. The lock gave way.

“This is the one!” Hadley’s voice muttered from the other side, satisfied with her discovery.

Before she even stepped inside, a sharp wave of alcohol and nicotine hit her.

“What the hell are you doing?”

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Hadley strode inside, her eyes immediately landing on the whiskey bottle on the table and the ashtray

overflowing with cigarette butts.

How much had he already downed?

And more importantly-why the hell was he drinking and smoking again? The air was thick with smoke and

alcohol, suffocating, almost dizzying.

Hadley’s lips pressed into a thin line. Without a word, she strode over to the window, jerking the curtains aside

and pushing it open, letting the crisp night air cut through the heavy fumes.

Upon turning back, her gaze landed on Eric, who was still raising the cigarette to his lips, completely unfazed.

Hadley marched forward, plucked the cigarette from his fingers, and crushed it into the ashtray without

hesitation.

“Tsk.” Eric's brows twitched in displeasure, but he didn’t object.

Hadley exhaled sharply, and then finally spoke. “Is this it now? Just whiskey and cigarettes? Do you even care

about your health?”

“Hmm?” Eric tilted his head slightly, his lips curving into a mocking smirk. “What's this? You worried about me?”

“Yes.” She didn’t even hesitate.

Eric let out a short, humorless laugh, his exhale sending a thin trail of smoke curling into the air. “Now, that’s

interesting His smirk deepened, eyes glinting with something unreadable. “You? Worried about me? Weren't you

the one who didn’t give a damn?”

Zl; Woes”

Before she could even process a response, his hands suddenly gripped her waist, yanking her onto his lap. A

small gasp left Hadley’s lips as she found herself pressed against his chest.

“Hadley... tellthe truth.” His voice was low, rough around the edges. “Do you even like me? Yes or no?”

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Chapter 2211 Won't Stop You Again

Her pulse hammered against her ribs.

What was she supposed to say?

What answer was he looking for?

Something told her he wanted her to say yes. That he needed to hear it. But she couldn't.

“Say something.”

His fingers traced slow circles against her waist, his touch gentle but insistent. But instead of leaning into him,

her body stiffened. Her eyes darted away.

And that was when Eric knew. Something inside him hollowed out, went cold. His hand stilled against her waist.

“I get it.”

For a moment, he just sat there, his expression unreadable. Then, with a hollow chuckle, he leaned back.

“Of course, you don’t.” His lips curled-not in amusement, but in something far more self-deprecating. “I

should've known better. This whole time, it was just me, wasn’t it? | was the one holding on to something that

was never there.”

And just like that-he let go. His voice was quieter now, almost resigned. “Go on. | won't stop you again.”

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