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

Chapter 41 Like His Own

Sister

“What?” Both Eric and Hadley stopped in their tracks, uncertain.

What was Nyla implying?

“Why that look?” Nyla’s chuckle broke the tension as she addressed Eric.

Turning her attention to Hadley, she patted her hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry, dear. I'm just ensuri well-being.”

She then faced Eric again.

“You should know what I'm getting at, if you have any heart. Hadley has no one else. I've failed her before, so

it’s my duty to see her settled before | can rest easy.”

“Nyla...” Hadley interjected with a shake of her head. “I can look after myself.”

But Nyla dismissed her concerns and continued to fix Eric with a stern look.

“I expect you to look after Hadley as if she were your own sister. | want her to be happy and well-cared for until

she marries someone decent. Her well-being will reflect on you. Do you grasp my meaning?”

“I understand.” Eric acknowledged with a nod.

The message was unmistakable. Hadley, though not his wife anymore, was still his family.

“Do you get it?” Nyla asked, her tone sharpening as she scrutinized him.

Eric quickly reassured her. “I've got it. Don’t worry.”

“Good,” Nyla responded, though her gaze lingered on Eric, sensing something amiss. “What's that look for? You

think I'm asking too much?”

“Not at all,” Eric responded hastily, shaking his head. A peculiar sensation washed over him, a mix of relief and

confusion.

“Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ve given my word, and I'll look after her well... Consider Hadley as my sister now.”

At the mention of “sister,” Hadley subtly lowered her gaze, concealing a slight, scornful smile.

“Then it's decided,” Nyla replied.

She dismissed him with a wave. “Off you go. Hadley will stay with me.”

“Okay, take good care, Grandma.”

With that, Eric departed, gently shutting the door behind him. As he left, he caught sight of Hadley offering

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Nyla a slice of orange.

“Give this a try-it's really sweet.”

Nyla sampled it and her face lit up. “Indeed, it's as sweet as you, Hadley!”

Eric, stepping away as the door clicked shut, mulled over Hadley’s actions. Was she crafting a plot to wrest back

scontrol?

However, she had indeed repeatedly assured Nyla of her disinterest in him.

Her assertions appeared sincere.

Could she really mean it?

A few days later.

It was nearing midnight when Hadley exited Galant. The sequence of the dance-off competition was left to

chance, causing sto perform early and others much later. This night wasn’t the latest she had been held up;

there had been sessions that extended until one or two in the morning.

Hadley made her way to the bus stop, hoping to catch the last one home.

But as she waited, no buses appeared. It seemed she was too late.

Unfazed, Hadley noticed this part of town had many rental bikes available.

She headed towards the nearest intersection, finding all the bikes stationed across the street.

Waiting for the green light, she noticed someone familiar at the slight. It was Eric, returning from a social

function and heading back to Silver Villas.

Eric had indulged in a bit of alcohol; though not enough to be drunk, the lack of dinner made his stomach

uneasy. He reclined in his seat, trying to take a rest.

“Huh?”

Out of the blue, Sebastian gestured towards the window. “Mr. Flynn, isn’t that Hadley over there?”

What?

Prompted by Sebastian's remark, Eric’s eyes snapped open, and sure enough, it was Hadley. He turned to

Sebastian, impressed. “Your eyesight is truly remarkable, Sebastian. You always manage to find her in a crowd.”

Sebastian let out a light laugh.

“Maybe it's because she’s so distinctive? She always catches my eye first in any crowd. And look, she’s by

herself tonight. What do you think she’s doing out so late?”

“You think | have answers to that question?”

Eric quirked an eyebrow.

As the pedestrian light flicked to green, Hadley darted across the street, pulled out her phone, scanned the QR

code on a nearby bike, and started pedaling away with purpose.

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Sebastian, ever curious, asked loudly, “What could she possibly be doing out so late?”

Remembering past interactions, Sebastian held back from suggesting they offer Hadley a ride.

Merely seconds later, Eric commanded, “Sebastian, follow her.” Startled, Sebastian blinked but quickly complied.

“Understood.”

He pressed on the gas and maintained a discreet distance behind Hadley.

“Mr. Flynn, should we escort her home?”

“There's no need for that,” Eric replied, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand. “Keep the pace slow. Just

make sure we don’t lose sight of her.”

“Huh?” Sebastian was puzzled but didn’t press further. “Alright, understood.”

Being an expert driver himself, Sebastian found tailing someone relatively straightforward.

He maintained a careful distance, tracking Hadley to Mayfield Road, where Eric had previously pin

This area, though older, housed several respectable apartments.

However, Hadley suddenly veered off, heading in a new direction.

er up.

As they delved deeper, the neighborhood's decline was stark. The surroundings grew increasingly shabby.

Eric's face grew stern, reflecting the setting’s gloom. Sebastian, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, “What

could she possibly be doing in such a place? Does she live here, or is she visiting someone?”

Who would she visit at such a late hour?

The idea of Hadley residing here also seemed implausible.

Despite everything, Eric had always ensured she was well provided for.

Eric's features hardened further. “Keep following her.”

“Understood.”

They reached a stretch where the road narrowed too much for the car to pass.

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Sebastian had to halt the car. “This is as far as we can go.”

Eric stared into the narrow alley with a grim expression. “What's down that way?”

“Mr. Flynn...” Sebastian hesitated, his voice tinged with unease. “That leads to West Twelfth Alley.”

West Twelfth Alley.

This part of Srixby had a notorious reputation.

A historic area, it housed a diverse mix of sof the city’s poorest residents.

The area was infamous for its harshness and economic struggles.

Stepping from his car, Eric was resolved to discover Hadley’s purpose in this challenging neighborhood. He was

puzzled about her choice to visit this area in the middle of the night.

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Chapter 41 Like His Own Sister

Yet, by the the stepped out of his car, she was already gone.

“Mr. Flynn.”

Behind him, Sebastian chimed in with a suggestion, “If she is living here, why not just call her to find out?”

Consider calling her?

With a cynical chuckle, Eric dismissed the idea.

Would she openly share the truth with him?

She had left his house without notice, and later simply told him to wait at Mayfield Road when he cto pick

her up last tto visit Nyla.

It seemed quite likely that she was residing nearby.

Eric found this revelation intriguing,

He had provided her a residence. What made her choose to stay here instead of in one of his lus villas?

What thoughts occupied Hadley’s head? Had she lost her senses?

It hardly mattered to him. Yet, he had given his grandmother his word to look after Hadley.

He pivoted, retrieving his phone to make a call.

“Mr. Flynn.” Phillips‘ voice cthrough from the other end.

“I need you to do something for me,” he responded curtly. “Check if Hadley resides on West Twelfth Alley.”

Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't AffordNow