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

Chapter 78 You're Coming

Back To Me

As Hadley walked down Mayfield Road, she immediately noticed the distinct black Bentley parked at the curb.

Such a vehicle was a rare sight in this neighborhood and quite unmistakable.

Equally hard to overlook was Sebastian, casually leaning against the car, apparently waiting for her.

He truly had been waiting.

“Miss Hadley!” he called out, waving as she drew nearer.

“Sebastian,” Hadley replied with a puzzled frown as she walked over. “What brings you here? Did Nyla send

you?”

“No, not at all.”

Sebastian cast an uncomfortable look toward the car, his expression almost regretful.

Just then, the car window slid down, revealing a man with a sharp, distinctly cold demeanor. Eric fixed his gaze

on her, his voice chilling. “Get in.”

Hadley, reacting quickly, clutched at Sebastian's sleeve. “Sebastian, | believe he’s speaking to you.” Sebastian

chuckled, though it was tinged with resignation. “Believe me, that’s surely not for me.”

It was quite obvious who Eric was waiting for here in the dead of night.

Silence fell over Hadley.

It was clear then; Eric meant her.

With a mix of reluctance and resolve, Hadley opened the car door and settled into the backseat.

She sat upright, placing her hands carefully in her lap, and took a deep breath.

“Where have you been?” Eric asked, glancing at his watch in an exaggerated fashion. “You finished your

performance at eleven. It’s now after midnight. Where have you been?”

It seemed he was already aware of her whereabouts, and he just wanted to hear it from her.

Facing him, Hadley calmly responded, “You know the answer, don’t you?”

“I need to hear it from you,” he said, his tone cutting through the silence like a sharp knife. Without warning, his

hand reached out, gripping her chin to turn her face toward him.

He closed the distance between them, his flawless features looming just inches away.

0.0%

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

14:04

< Chapter 78 You're Coming Back To Me

His voice then softened to a whisper, asking, “Where were you? Who were you with? What did you do?”

Hadley remained motionless, not daring to move.

The faint light inside the car highlighted the severe angles of Eric's face, making his striking appearance even

more pronounced-a man whose mere presence could command attention.

There was a twhen Hadley had been utterly captivated by him.

Gathering her composure, Hadley inhaled sharply. “I was out with Denver. We grabbed sramen at the night

market.”

“Ramen, huh?” Eric raised an eyebrow, his face giving nothing away. He caressed her jawline gently with his

thumb. “Was it good? Did you enjoy it?”

What kind of question was that?

Hadley blinked, taken aback, but then cautiously answered, “Um... yes, it was quite good.”

The silence that followed was heavy.

The tension hung in the air for long moments, and feeling her discomfort grow, Hadley attempted to distance

herself. “If that's all, I should-"

Suddenly, her shoulder was firmly grasped, and she was forced back into her seat.

Eric's eyes held a chilling glint, and his lips twisted into a subtle, menacing smile.

“Hadley, the divorce papers have been nullified. The file has been withdrawn. You're coming back to me.”

The entire world seemed to spin around Hadley.

She could withstand surprises. She had endured hardships. But this? This was absolute insanity.

She felt her body shaking as her fingers clenched into fists, a desperate attempt to control the rising panic

within her.

“What... did you just say?”

Could she have heard him wrong?

With a tilt of his head and a deepening smirk, Eric replied, “Missed what | said? Letsay it again. You're in

need of a man, right? Someone to look after you. So why not...” His eyes grew darker. “Cback to me?”

Gently, he stroked her face, his voice taking on a coaxing tone. “It’s late, but tomorrow, let’s visit Grandma and

tell her about our plan...”

Eric continued, his voice maintaining a calm, mesmerizing tone. “She’ll be thrilled. She has always hoped we'd

end up together, and now-"

“Eric!” Hadley interrupted sharply, her voice shaking as she stopped him. Her face turned pale. “Enough! Just

stop!

His behavior had been so odd lately. First, he kissed her out of nowhere, and now he was asking her to return to

him?

25.0%

Chapter 78 You're Coming Back To Me

She couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. Whether he had gone crazy, was playing a cruel game, or had

shidden agenda-she didn’t want to know.

She wasn’t going to be part of whatever he was plotting.

With a slight, cold smile, Hadley said, “I decline. | won't return to you.”

That wasn’t entirely true, though.

More accurately-she had never really been with him at all.

“What did you just say?” Eric's eyes narrowed a bit. “I couldn't catch that. Say it again.”

She was certain he heard her loud and clear.

“Enough with the games.” Hadley tightened her hand into a fist, bracing herself. “Look closely, Eric. | am Hadley.

The sHadley you despised. The sHadley you sent overseas and left behind for years!”

“I've changed my mind.” His eyes fixed on her intensely, scorching as though they could burn her very flesh.

“Cback to me. | want you now.”

Disbelief washed over Hadley as she stared at him.

His overwhelming presence pressed down on her, so heavy and intense that she felt like backing away.

Could he actually hear what he was saying?

Did he realize how disgusting his demands were?

She was not an object to be tossed aside and then reclaimed at his whim.

Yet, debating this seemed futile.

There were unspoken matters from four years ago. Now, after such a long time, there was no point in bringing

them up.

“No,” she said firmly, shaking her head. “I do not wish to.”

She didn’t want him?

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

Was she still refusing him?

Eric's patience had been enduring, but her persistent rejections were beginning to erode it.

His face grew stern, and his tone beclow and forceful. “I'm asking nicely, Hadley. Don’t test my patience.”

A silent chuckle escaped Hadley.

Even now, while begging her to cback, he still acted condescending.

His audacity. His sense of entitlement. What made him think he had any right?

“I'm not testing anything.”

Chills spread through her body, her blood seeming to turn to ice.

“Plus, this confuses me. Weren't you in love with Linda? Shouldn't these words be for her instead of me?”

55.8%

14-04

Chapter 78 You're Coming Back To Me

As soon as she spoke, his expression changed-his features sharpened, his jaw tightened, and his eyes

darkened.

In Srixby, it was well known that Linda was the one conquest Eric had failed to secure. His greatest regret

It was common knowledge that mentioning her around him was a risk, now more than ever since Linda had

bechis sister-in-law.

Hadley’s words had now definitely hit a sore spot.

Noticing his irritation, Hadley didn’t back down. “You love her so much-why not pursue her? It’s not unusual

Many men have married their brother's widows. If there's real love-"

“Hadley!” His tone was a chilling whisper, tinged with a threat. “Don’t assyou can say anything just because

I've tolerated it.”

Tolerated?

Was he for real? The thought was almost laughable.

She briefly shut her eyes, and then looked at him again, her gaze mocking yet calm. “I truly wish that your long

wait will be rewarded, and that you'll capture her heart.”

What she implied was clear-“I hope you and Linda end up together forever, sparing the rest of us any trouble.”

“Hadley!” That was the last straw. Eric's temper flared.

He removed his hand from her face, his fist tightening.

Anger consumed him, pushing him to the brink of violence.