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

Chapter 77 What If | Can’t Forget You

The glow from the screen cast a soft light over Denver's face, making the sudden burst of joy impossible to

His throat bobbed with anticipation as he hammered out a reply. “Absolutely! | will wait for you when you are

done.”

Hadley’s response cswiftly.

“Eleven o'clock. Meetoutside the club.”

Denver felt like he was floating

“okay.”

Across the table, Eric tipped back his glass and downed the whiskey in one gulp. He reached for the bottle again,

filling it to the brim without hesitation.

Marshall arched an eyebrow. “Why are you drinking like the world is ending? Slow down.”

“I am fine,” Eric muttered, his face unreadable. “Where are we heading next? Let's keep the night rolling.”

To everyone's surprise, his mood seemed unusually high tonight, and neither Marshall nor Barrie had a reason to

argue

“Fine by me,” Barrie said, already scrolling through his phone. “I will sort something out.”

*Sounds good.*

“Uh...” Denver hesitated before speaking. “You guys go ahead. | am sitting this one out.”

“Hmm? Marshall gave his younger cousin a perplexed look. “Why?”

“L... have something to do.”

“Something to do, huh?” Marshall narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t you just say you were free all night?”

#1, uh...” Denver scratched the back of his neck. “I got a last-minute... date.”

Marshall, who knew Denver better than anyone, threw an arm around his shoulders with a grin. “A date, huh?

Judging by that look on your face, | am guessing it is a girl?”

Denver hesitated for a fraction of a second, and then shot up from his seat. “I gotta go. See you guys later!”

Before anyone could react, he was already bolting for the door.

Marshall pointed after him with a laugh. “Would you look at that? The boy is finally growing up.”

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Chapter 77 What If | Can’t Forget You

With a sharp bang, Eric slammed his glass onto the table, the sound cutting through the air like a slap. Without a

word, he pushed back his chair and strode toward the exit.

“Hey! Where are you going?”

“Home!”

“What?”

Marshall and Barrie exchanged dumbfounded looks. What happened to keeping the night rolling?

Eric stepped outside just in tto see Hadley slipping into Denver's car.

The way Denver was grinning like an idiot seemed like such an eyesore.

Eric looked away, his patience snapping like a brittle twig. “Sebastian, drive.”

“Yes, sir.”

Leaning back, Eric shut his eyes.

Forget it.

He had no right to interfere. If Hadley wanted to be with Denver, and with Nyla’s backing, what could he do? Still,

his expression darkened, his mood turning sour.

Maybe it was the alcohol twisting in his veins, but the air in the car felt suffocating. He yanked off his suit jacket

and tossed it aside. Then, in one sharp motion, he tore off his tie and flung it onto the seat.

It did nothing. The tightness in his chest refused to ease. Unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt, he tried to

shake off the frustration curling in his stomach-but it was useless.

He was beyond livid.

Denver's car pulled up to a lively open-air night market, its stalls glowing under warm streetlights, the air thick

with the scent of spices and sizzling oil.

Hadley glanced at Denver apologetically. “I am guessing this is your first tin a place like this? Sorry, but with

my budget, this is about as fancy as it gets.”

“What? No way.” Denver shook his head with a chuckle. “Sure, | went abroad for school young and never got the

chance to explore this part of town, but con-it’s not like every place outside Srixby is covered in white

tablecloths. We have food trucks, you know.”

“You're right.” Hadley smirked. “But food trucks do not really count. It is all just burgers, hot dogs, and

overpriced fusion tacos.”

Denver blinked before breaking into laughter. “Hah! Okay, you gotthere.”

“Relax.” His easygoing nature made Hadley let her guard down a bit. “I promise you, the food here is better than

anything you will find at shipster food truck. Con.”

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she led him to a bustling noodle stall, ordering two howls of steaming ramen

As she wiped down the table with a napkin, she said, “This place makes the heat ramen in town. You will se*7

Ahright”

When the food arrived, Denver took his first bite and nearly groaned. “Wow. This is good”

“Right?” Hadley grinned, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Thanks for the pumpkin soup the other day...”

After finishing most of her ramen, she finally spoke, her voice soft. “But please, do not buy it foragain

Hearing this, Denver paused mid-bite, his expression shifting. He looked a bit flustered, “You do not ***

“No, I do not like it.”

Denver was at a loss for words as he stared at her blankly, “I am sorry...”

“You do not need to apologize.”

Hadley exhaled, her voice quieter now. “Fine. The pumpkin soup was delicious, and | liked it a lot. But | do poz

want you bringing it toagain.”

Denver nodded slowly. “I get it. It is not the soup-it isyou do not like,”

It hit harder than he expected. He had not even gotten the chance to show her who he really was.

“Do I... really annoy you that much?”

“Do not say that.” Hadley’s tone was steady but firm. “You are a great guy. And | am sure you know that. But we

are not right for each other. Even if all you are looking for is something casual-"

Something casual?

Was that really how she saw him?

“No! That is not it!” Denver panicked, shaking his head. “Just because | lived in a culture where casual dating’s

common does not mean | take relationships and commitments lightly. | never saw you as spassing

distraction!”

That only made it worse.

Hadley sighed inwardly. “That is why you should understand-we are not a good match.”

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“Why not?”

For Denver, Hadley was the first woman to make his heart pound. From the moment he saw her on the Galant

stage, he had not been able to forget her.

How was he supposed to just walk away?

“Is it... because of Eric?” Denver hesitated before asking.

Hadley frowned slightly but gave no answer. “You should find someone who fits into your world.”

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Chapter 7? What If | Can’t Forget You

“But feelings do not work that way!”

Denver refused to accept it. “It is the 21st century now! People do not turn away from someone just because

they were married before!”

Hadley opened her mouth but found no words.

She had not expected someone like Denver to be this direct, this unguarded.

And the truth was... she was moved.

But that was exactly why she had to turn him down.

“I appreciate it, | do. But this cannot happen.”

“Why?” Denver clenched his fists. “Even Nyla wants you to move on and be happy. Why reject that?”

Hadley could not explain without revealing the whole truth. “That is my choice. | am sorry, but | am not looking

to start something new. And you... you are just caught up in the moment. Soon, you will forget about me.”

She pushed her chair back and stood up.

“Consider dinner my way of repaying you for the soup. From now on... let us leave it at this.”

She grabbed her bag and turned away.

“Hadley! Hadley!”

Denver leaped to his feet, prepared to pursue her, but there were many people in the market. Without turning

around, she proceeded quickly, navigating past the crowds of people. She was quickly engulfed by the sea of

bodies, interrupting him.

“Hadley?”

Denver stayed motionless, desperately looking around the crowd, but she was gone.

In the midst of the busy street, he whispered to himself, his voice tinged with subdued annoyance, “What if,

however, | am unable to forget you?”

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