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

Chapter 80 No Backing

Down

Nyla paused abruptly. “What exactly do you mean by ‘far better?”

She scrutinized her grandson with narrowing eyes. “Are you suggesting... you've found a more suitable match for

Hadley? When did you becso involved in Hadley’s affairs?”

Seemingly reaching a resolution, Nyla gave a decisive nod. “Alright, if you believe there's someone more suitable

than Denver, I'm all ears. Convince me.”

“Grandma...” A slight twitch marked Eric's temple. It was rare for him to waver, yet he couldn't help feeling

slightly embarrassed.

However, the stakes were high, and retreating wasn’t in his plans.

Giving in now would mean letting Hadley go to someone else, something he wouldn't allow to happen.

He straightened his shoulders and met Nyla’s gaze. “What about me?”

Nyla fixed a long, searching look on him, expression unreadable, as though she was seeing him for the first time.

Tseemed to drag before she finally blinked and whispered, “Oh dear... | must be growing senile. Have | lost

my senses?”

How else could she make sense of hearing something so absurd?

She turned to leave, calling out to the housekeeper, “Kira! Where's my medicine? | think I'm hearing things. |

need my pills...”

“Grandma.” Eric laughed softly and caught her arm. “At least consider my proposal.”

“No!” Nyla turned around sharply, dismissing his idea outright.

“Why not?” Eric looked genuinely puzzled. “Haven't you always hoped we'd end up together?”

Hadn't Nyla been the one to first suggest Eric and Hadley would make a good match?

“Do you really need to askwhy?” Nyla sighed, her disappointment evident as she shook her head. “Eric, this

isn’t the tfor games.”

Games?

A surge of frustration hit Eric. “How am | playing games?”

“What would you call it, then?” Nyla’s expression hardened. “Have you completely lost your mind? You've never

cared for Hadley. This seems like a desperate attempt just to keep her away from Denver.”

0.0%

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

14:05

< Chapter 80 No Backing Down

“Grandma...” Eric attempted to speak.

“Listen, Eric.” Nyla grasped his hand, her voice softening as she tried to reason with him. “You need to let Hadley

go. It's rare for her to find someone like Denver after everything | can see he truly cares for her.”

Her years of wisdom and keen observation of human nature told her that Denver's affections were genuine

“Grandma...”

A sinking feeling of defeat began to take hold of Eric.

It was a classic case of being caught in his own trap.

“Yes, | know...” Eric conceded, a reluctant acceptance in his voice. “I never liked her in the past. But things have

changed.”

At his words, Nyla paused, giving him a piercing look.

As clearly as she recognized Denver's honest intentions, she could see that Eric's declaration was sincere.

Yet, she needed confirmation.

“Are you truly serious about this?”

“Yes,” Eric replied, holding Nyla’s gaze firmly. “Absolutely, | am.”

Nyla gasped-not loudly, but enough to betray her shock.

She was momentarily at a loss for words, but then she managed to ask, “But why?”

Was it really possible for someone to shift from pure dislike to this?

Eric struggled to find an explanation.

If he had figured out why he disliked Hadley so much before, maybe he would understand why he felt differently

now.

Yet, no rational explanation surfaced.

All Eric could say was, “Grandma, I've realized | want to be with Hadley. You've always hoped we'd reconcile Can

| count on your support?”

Nyla attempted to respond but words failed her.

How could she have anticipated that her grandson would change his heart so thoroughly in such a short time

while she was recuperating from her surgery?

Leaving the room, Eric didn’t secure Nyla’s support right away, but he wasn’t too concerned.

After all, he was Nyla’s grandson-surely, she wouldn't prefer an outsider to him.

However, his primary concern remained unresolved.

The real issue? Hadley.

27.5%

D

14.05

Chapter 80 No Backing Down

She had actually refused him.

Was Denver truly a better choice? Superior to him?

That was a notion Eric refused to entertain.

If Hadley didn’t want to return to him willingly, then he'd find a way to make her see they belonged together.

By the tevening rolled around and Hadley stepped into Galant, Lennon summoned her to his office.

immediately.

“Mr. Lewis.” Hadley entered, still wearing her bag. “What's going on? | need to prep soon. There's a new dance

tonight-"

“Hadley...” Lennon's face bore a look of distress. “You're not on the roster to perform tonight.”

Hadley stopped in her tracks. “What? Why? Is there a problem with my performance?”

This confusion was justified. Since her start at Galant, Hadley had adhered flawlessly to all their protocols. Never

had Lennon hinted at any issues with her performances.

Lennon exhaled deeply, shaking his head. “No, you've done nothing wrong.”

To say she had done nothing wrong was to put it mildly. Under Hadley’s tenure, Galant’s popularity had surged, a

fact clear to all observers.

“So, what's the issue?” Anxiety crept into Hadley’s voice.

“It’s Mr. Flynn.”

At that name, Hadley felt a chill.

Eric.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

“What is he up to now?”

Lennon offered a helpless laugh. “You know how Mr. Flynn is. He doesn’t provide reasons. He just instructed that

as of today, you're off the performance schedule.”

As the reality set in, Hadley’s posture deflated, her face turning pale.

Lennon observed her reaction with a mix of concern and curiosity. “He didn’t tell you?”

“No,” she replied flatly, her head moving in a slow shake.

Why would he? Cutting her off from her livelihood was hardly a topic for casual conversation.

“That's odd...” Lennon's voice dropped to a murmur. “I always thought Mr. Flynn looked after you quite well...”

His laugh cout strained and uneasy.

Clearly, he feared Eric. The loss of Hadley was detrimental to Galant, yet challenging Eric Flynn was unthinkable.

“Look, Hadley, try not to read too much into this,” Lennon said, trying to reassure her. “Mr. Flynn probably thinks

he’s protecting you. He believes you shouldn’t be working so hard. Isn't it better to have someone

55.1%

14:05

Chapter 80 No Backing Down

looking out for you like that? A man of his means-don’t you think he could easily support you? You deserve some

leisure...”

Hadley barely heard him.

One fact dominated her thoughts-she could not afford to be without this job, not now.

The costs for Joy’s medical care were mounting. Although Colleen was handling the surgery bills at the moment,

Hadley still needed to sustain her daily financial support for her daughter.

“Mr. Lewis, is there really no way | can continue to perform? | don’t need someone else to support me.”

Lennon exhaled heavily, his expression somber. “Hadley, you must understand-Mr. Flynn's commands are final

here in Srixby. No one opposes him.”

So that was it.

It was clear there was no use debating with Lennon; he wasn’t to blame. She needed to deal with this directly.

“I understand,” she said. “Thanks for everything, Mr. Lewis.”

“Take care.”

As she exited Galant, she quickly retrieved her phone, found Eric's contact, and dialed.

100.0%