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

Chapter 86 She Belongs With Me

Barrie and Marshall exchanged confused looks before Barrie teased, “What's the deal with those two tonight? Off

to the bathroom before we've even had a drink?”

“I know, right?” Marshall echoed, his voice tinged with amusement.

Barrie's laughter filled the air.

Instead of the bathroom, Denver was discreetly heading backstage, eager for a moment with Hadley.

“Denver.”

Suddenly, a familiar voice halted him.

“Eric?”

Turning, Denver felt an unexpected surge of nervousness.

“Seems like you're lost?” Eric gave a knowing smile and drape an arm around Denver's shoulders. “You've been

here so many times, yet you still can’t find the bathroom?”

With a gentle tug, he steered Denver in a new direction. “Let’s go. I'll show you the way.”

“Uh... sure.”

Without other options, Denver allowed himself to be led, and they both entered the bathroom together.

They stood next to each other, attending to their own needs in silence.

“Denver.”

Eric broke the silence unexpectedly.

“Hmm?” Startled, Denver turned to him. “Yes, Eric? What's up?”

“I know you were trying to find Hadley backstage,” Eric said without turning, his eyes straight ahead. “She’s not

here tonight, though.”

Hearing this, Denver felt a shock pulse through him, his heart momentarily racing.

Eric continued to face forward, knowing well the impact of his words on Denver's expression.

“You...” Denver swallowed hard. “How do you know that?”

Eric didn’t reply.

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Chapter 86 She Belongs With Me

Turning to face Denver directly, he said with firm intent, “Denver, hearout-stop chasing Hadley. You two are

not a good match. Just let her go.”

Denver's body tensed. “Why should 1?”

“Because...”

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The look in Eric's eyes grew intense-a signal only another man could truly understand. It was the clear look of a

predator, issuing a territorial warning to a rival stepping into his domain.

With deliberate clarity, Eric said, “She belongs with me.”

Denver stood frozen, disbelief etching his face. “But you're divorced from her.”

That fact was irrefutable.

Denver knew the specifics from being around his friends- Eric had been orchestrating this divorce for four years.

The plan had always been that once Hadley returned, the paperwork would be finalized.

Unperturbed, Eric quirked an eyebrow. “That was the past. We've moved past that. We're together again.”

What?

Together again?

That didn’t make sense.

Looking puzzled, Denver replied, “But Nyla toldto go after her just a few days ago.”

Eric’s laughter cut sharply through the air.

“That was before. We made up just recently.”

That decision was his, at least. As far as he was concerned, Hadley would eventually see things his way.

Opening his mouth to respond, Denver found himself speechless.

“Got more questions?”

Eric’s tone was casual, almost like an elder brother offering life advice, but the hostility in his eyes was

unmistakable.

“Go on, ask. | have time,” Eric added.

Denver fell silent.

What more was there to say?

“Oh, right.” Eric seemed to recall something suddenly. “You asked earlier how | knew she wouldn't be here

tonight, didn’t you?”

A slow, amused smile spread across his lips. “It’s not only for tonight-she’s not coming back ever again.”

With those words, Eric turned around and left.

Stunned, Denver remained where he stood.

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Chapter 86 She Belongs With Me

It all made sense now.

Hadley no longer needed to struggle so hard. She was with Eric again.

The most bitter part for Denver? He could have offered her the sease.

Yet, he was just a moment too late.

Back at the table, Eric maintained his composure, while Denver sank into silence.

He was always quiet, so Marshall and Barrie didn’t notice the change.

After stime, Eric glanced at his watch. “I need to handle something. I'm going to leave now.”

“So early?”

“Yes, I'm expected elsewhere.” Standing, Eric prepared to leave.

Marshall chuckled. “Are we talking about Linda?”

“Marshall.” Eric's expression hardened in an instant. He looked over at Barrie, who seemed also amused by the

exchange, and his voice took on a stern edge. “I'm going to say this one last time-Linda is my sister-in-law,

nothing more. | don’t want to hear another joke about her and me.”

There was a distinct change in his tone.

What was this all about?

They had often joked about this, yet Eric had never shown such irritation before.

Marshall and Barrie realized Eric was entirely serious. Pushing him further would surely make him snap.

“Understood.”

“Alright, noted.”

With a nod of approval, Eric's features softened. “I'll be leaving now.”

“Hold on, who's the mystery person? Have you found someone special?”

“Why not introduce her to us?”

“Con, share the details!”

As he departed, Eric dismissed them with a wave. “Perhaps sother time.”

“He’s definitely seeing someone, isn’t he?”

“It makes sense now why he didn’t want us joking about Linda-he has someone important in his life.”

In a dim corner, Denver held his beer tightly and took a deep, reflective drink.

Hadley was browsing job listings on her phone when she heard a knock.

Having been let go from Galant, she was urgently in need of new employment.

“Who is it?”

She set her phone down and moved to answer the door.

Barely having tto react, she saw a long leg cross her threshold. Eric walked in confidently, one hand carrying

a bag and the other flinging his suit jacket in her direction.

Hadley caught the jacket in a reflex. Why had he cback?

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Eric moved through her apartment as if it were his own, setting the bag on the multipurpose table where she

dined, read, and even applied makeup.

“Cover here.” He began to unpack the bag. “Didn’t you go out today? What have you been up to all by

yourself?”

Hadley was clearly irritated but restrained herself from lashing out. She merely gave him a sharp look. “Nothing.

Just watching sTV shows.”

An outdated TV, left behind by the landlord, buzzed quietly in the background, more for noise than for viewing.

“What shows?”

Eric's eyes shifted towards the screen.

On display was a reality show featuring a row of men in swim trunks, shirtless.

His expression turned sour immediately.

Was she actually interested in this show?

“Do you like watching this?” His tone lowered, eyes narrowing slightly.

Hadley, not catching the edge in his voice, nodded without much thought. “Yes.”

Just then, the camera closed in on a contestant, his muscles well-defined.

She remarked casually, “Nice physique.”

Eric's jaw clenched.

She was admiring other men? And openly praising their bodies?

Normally, he might have destroyed the television right there. But he restrained himself.

Acting out would only frighten Hadley.

Instead, he swiftly turned to her, took her face in his hands, and made her look at him. “Stop watching this.”

Blinking in bewilderment, Hadley shifted her head away, breaking free from his hold.

Eric released her gently, and then motioned towards the table. “Come, eat.”

“What?”

Confused, she looked down.

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Chapter 86 She Belongs With Me

“Vanilla panna cotta.”

A small, almost fawning smile played on his lips. Unbeknownst to even himself, Eric Flynn, the usually

unapproachable heir, appeared unusually keen to make her happy.

Hadley almost laughed out at this.

“I got this for you. Have some,” he added.