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

Chapter 49 He Won't CBack Again

Hadley met Eric’s threat with nothing more than a knowing smile, effortless and unwavering.

Her voice remained steady, almost amused. “I don’t think so.”

“Hadley!”

“Mr. Flynn!”

She barely acknowledged the storm gathering in Eric’s expression-the tension in his jaw, the fire in his eyes.

Instead, she pushed forward, her words measured, deliberate.

“Tell me, just how much is the Flynn family nworth to you? If you walk out that door now, all people will talk

about is two patrons fighting over a pretty dancer. Typical nightclub . No scandal. No fallout.”

Then, with a subtle shift, her voice took on a biting mockery.

“But shut down Galant? Oh, that would be a mistake. Because then, I'll make sure everyone knows exactly who |

am. You might seeas nothing, but let's not forget... I'm still Mrs. Flynn.”

She paused just long enough to watch the weight of her words settle before delivering the final stroke. “Picture

the headlines, Eric. The esteemed Flynn family’s daughter-in-law-Srixby’s most coveted nightclub dancer. Now

that would be a spectacle, don’t you think?”

Eric went rigid. His features hardened, his fury warring with disbelief.

Hadley simply laughed. “How could you allow something so disgraceful? Quite the scandal, wouldn't you say?”

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Eric's jaw tightened, the muscle ticking in frustration. As much as he despised it, Hadley had struck exactly

where it hurt.

The thought of the Flynn nbeing dragged through the mud, turned into Srixby’s latest mockery, was a

humiliation he could not afford.

“Fine. Very well.”

His gaze turned razor-sharp, a slow, cruel smirk curling his lips. “Hadley, you really are an ingrate, aren't you?”

Who did she think he was doing all this for, anyway?

“We took you in, gave you everything, and this-this is how you repay me? By using my own family to threaten

me?”

Hadley met his stare. “Oh, | wouldn't dare.”

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Chapter 49 He Won't CBack Again

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Hadley simply laughed. “How could you allow something so disgraceful? Quite the scandal, wouldn't you say?”

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Eric's jaw tightened, the muscle ticking in frustration. As much as he despised it, Hadley had struck exactly

where it hurt.

The thought of the Flynn nbeing dragged through the mud, turned into Srixby’s latest mockery, was a

humiliation he could not afford.

“Fine. Very well.”

His gaze turned razor-sharp, a slow, cruel smirk curling his lips. “Hadley, you really are an ingrate, aren't you?”

Who did she think he was doing all this for, anyway?

“We took you in, gave you everything, and this-this is how you repay me? By using my own family to threaten

me?”

Hadley met his stare. “Oh, | wouldn't dare.”

Her voice was smooth. “But let's be clear. Leavealone, and nothing will spiral out of control. Soon enough, |

won't even be a Flynn anymore. So tell me, Eric-why are you so determined to meddle in my affairs?” Their eyes

locked, the air between them crackling with unspoken tension, neither willing to yield.

A soft, measured tap shattered the standoff.

“Who is it?”

Eric's voice was edged with impatience.

The door creaked open just enough for Lennon to peek inside, his expression cautious. “Mr. Flynn... just checking

if you needed anything?”

Eric and Hadley had been alone inside the dressing room for too long, and Lennon was starting to get worried.

After the fiasco with Cody, Lennon was probably wondering if Hadley needed rescuing.

“No! Get lost-"

“Wait!”

Hadley’s voice sliced clean through his dismissal.

Eric’s eyes narrowed. “What now?”

She smiled, a picture of effortless poise. “Mr. Flynn,” she said, addressing him as if he were nothing more than

a stranger.

“Mr. Lewis can bring swine. You're the man of the night, after all. It’s only right that | offer you a toast as

promised.”

Eric blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

Even now, she kept up the act.

Treating him like he was nothing more than a non a guest list, just another face in the crowd.

A bitter realization settled in. If that was how she wanted to play it, then so be it.

Eric's lips curled into a slow, ice-edged smirk. “Sure. Why not.”

Hadley turned to Lennon, her voice as effortless as ever. “Would you mind taking care of that?”

Lennon brightened. “On it!”

In a flash, he was gone-only to return just as swiftly. A waitress trailed behind him, balancing a tray bearing the

wine and two glasses.

“Everything's set, Mr. Flynn.”

Lennon then glanced at Hadley, giving her a subtle nod.

With quiet poise, she stepped forward, lifting the bottle with steady hands. The wine poured smoothly, the

deep red liquid catching the light before settling into the glass. Then, with deliberate grace, Hadley extended it

toward Eric, both hands cradling the stem, a picture of composure.

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Days passed, and Eric never returned to Galant.

Lennon felt it creeping in, curling around his thoughts like an unanswered question. Restless, he finally turn

to Hadley, unable to hold back any longer. “Hadley, what really happened between you and Mr. Flynn that night?

Just tell me. Maybe | can help figure something out.”

“Nothing happened.”

Hadley couldn't explain the truth, so she simply said, “I suppose he just didn’t like what he saw when | took

off the mask.”

Lennon stared at her with furrowed eyebrows.

Eric? Unsatisfied with her? The very idea was absurd. Lennon had seen Hadley turn heads without even trying.

How could Eric-of all people-be indifferent? What was wrong with him?

And yet, reality stared Lennon in the face, offering no room for argument. Eric was gone.

With a weary sigh, Lennon dragged a hand through his hair.

“Well... | guess there's nothing we can do about it.”

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Hadley didn’t flinch. If anything, she met his gaze with quiet certainty. “So, do I still need to wear the mask?”

There was no hesitation. “Of course.”

Lennon had hoped-truly hoped-that Eric would step in and back her career, which would also bring big money to

his club. But no one had predicted this turn of events.

Now, with Eric out of the picture, the mask had to stay.

Struths, however, were better left unsaid.

“Keep it on for now,” Lennon said, his voice firm yet contemplative. “You've already built a nwith it. Might as

well make it your signature.”

Hadley inclined her head, accepting his words without argument. “Alright. If you say so.”

But deep down, Lennon knew the truth: the mask couldn't stay forever. Sooner or later, it would have to come

off-but not without a reckoning.

After all the , the chaos of her life only intensified. Between rehearsals, performances, and now the film,

Hadley’s schedule had beca relentless blur.

At the set, she and a few stand-ins had just wrapped up their first routine for Adonis, setting the stage for filming

in the next couple of days.

Hadley was constantly in motion, caught in an endless cycle between the set and Galant-dancing under one set

of lights only to rush off and perform under another.

After wrapping up at the set, she sank into the bus seat, exhaustion pressing against her limbs as the vehicle

wove its way back to West Twelfth Alley.

Just as Hadley let her eyes drift shut for a fleeting moment of rest, her phone buzzed.

She inhaled deeply, steadying herself before answering, “Dr. Williams?”

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Every tMathias called, a knot tightened in her stomach, her mind bracing for the worst. She dreador

possibility of bad news about Joy.

“Ms. Pearson!”

Mathias’s voice cthrough, steady as ever. But something was different this time-no heary silence, no

ominous pause hanging between them.

“I have good news for you.”

Hadley sat up instantly, fingers tightening around the phone. “Really?” Her pulse kicked up, her breath catching

“Could it be...”

The rest of the sentence hovered at the edge of her lips, but she couldn’t bring herself to s