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

Chapter 37 It's TTo Move On Hadley stood rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on the duo entangled in what seemed to be an intimate embrace. Were they about to kiss? "Oh no!" Hadley cursed silently.

Eric faced her directly, while Linda remained oblivious, her back turned. She had no idea Hadley was standing there, witnessing the moment.

Eric's expression stiffened, his complexion turning pale as his grip on Linda's arm unconsciously tighte Hadley? What was she doing here? Hadley was the first to shake off the shock, her body snapping into motion as she spun around to flee. Why was she running? Did she see him as skind of dreadful specter lurking in the dark? "Linda!" Eric's tone turned rigid as he pushed Linda away. "You don't need to walkout. I can handle it myself." Before Linda could respond, Eric was already striding down the hallway, his long legs effortlessly closing the distance between him and Hadley.

"Eric!" Linda's voice rang out, sharp with frustration. She clenched her fists, staring after him. Had she con too strong and driven him away? Eric, familiar with every inch of the building, caught up with Hadley in no time, cornering her in the stairwell. "Where do you think you're going?" he snapped.

Hadley found herself trapped, her back pressed flat against the cold wall.

Eric braced his hands on either side of her, effectively caging her in. "Why are you running? Do I terrify you that much?" Hadley swallowed hard. To her, he was far more fearsthan any monster conjured from childhood nightmares.

Shrinking away to avoid the accidental brush of his arm, she clasped her hands together and pleaded, “Please, just letgo! I didn't mean to interrupt you two!" 0.0% 19:20 "If they were planning to cozy up, they should have picked a better location," she thought. That corridor? Anyone could have walked by.

What? Interrupting? Eric's face darkened, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits as he growled her name, "Hadley, what absurd ideas are running through your head?" Linda belonged to Ernest. There wasn't a shred of possibility for anything between him and her.

And yet, this wasn't the first tHadley had assumed such nonsense.

She wasn't the only one, either. Half the people in Srixby likely shared her misconception.

Eric had never cared to correct them. There was nothing to correct. His history with Linda was tangled, yes, but it had never crossed the line into something inappropriate.

Yet, for reasons beyond his understanding, he felt an inexplicable need to clarify things with Hadley.

"Linda and I are not what you think!" "What?" Hadley blinked, momentarily thrown off. "What do you mean?" "Hadley!" Eric's frustration flared again. "Are you ever going to stop this nonsense?" Noticing the storm brewing in his eyes, Hadley hesitated. "Wait, are you seriously explaining yourself to me?" Eric's silence was confirmation enough.

"You don't have to," Hadley said, still baffled. "I'm just your ex-wife. It's none of my business. You and Linda... You know the truth, and that's enough." Eric stood there, fuming but unable to find the right words.

Why was he even wasting his breath? There was no reason to justify himself.

"If anything..." Hadley added after a pause. "Maybe you should explain it to Ernest.” "Hadley!" Her words reignited Eric's fury.

"Are you trying to stir up trouble?" Hadley seized the opportunity, ducking beneath his arm and bolting, tossing a final remark over her shoulder. "Maybe you should talk to Nyla! Situations like this don't just happen in stories, you know!" Situations like this? What was she even talking about? Ernest was lying in a coma, yet Hadley seemed convinced Eric was entangled with his sister-in-law in sclandestine affair.

21.5% 19:20 The notion was laughable. There was no way of that. The Flynn family would never tolerate such disgrace. And yet... Something about her words clung to him like a stubborn shadow. The memory of Linda's earlier expression resurfaced, leaving a faint unease gnawing at the back of his mind.

"Maybe I should move on and find someone new," he mused.

But how? And where? It wasn't as if he could simply conjure a new partner from thin air.

Hadley had been overseas for years, but they were still legally bound in marriage. For that reason, the thought of meeting new people hadn't even crossed his mind.

But now? Maybe it was about time.

That evening, without calling Barrie or Marshall, Eric found himself heading to Galant alone.

As always, the VIP booth in front of the stage remained reserved exclusively for him.

Lennon practically bounded over the moment he caught wind of Eric's arrival, grinning from ear to ear. "Mr.

Flynn!" Eric leaned back, draping one arm over the sofa while tapping his knee absentmindedly with the other. "Which slot is she dancing in tonight?" Lennon's eyes gleamed knowingly.

He was well aware of why Eric was here. "So, she's the one," he thought smugly.

But he played it smooth. "Well, Mr. Flynn, we've got quite a few dazzling ladies here. Who exactly are you referring to?" Eric smirked. "You're sharp, Lennon. Who else? I didn't crash into the dressing room for just anybody." Lennon chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "Right, right. She's on after three more songs tonight." Eric arched a brow. "No fixed schedule?" "It shifts based on a random draw among the dancers." Random draw? That was new.

Lennon, catching his interest, launched into a rundown of the Dance-Off Championship before flashing another wide grin. "Mr. Flynn, why not join in on the excitement?" Joining in on the excitement? Eric lifted a brow. Lennon certainly had a way with words.

"Alright." 19:20

He was here for S, and he wasn't about to let anyone outbid him. m "Here's the deal No matter who places the highest bet, I'll top it by half a million." Lennon's jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Very well, Mr. Flynn!" he said, barely containing his excitement. "I'll go ahead and thank you on her behalf." Then, as if struck by another idea, Lennon added, "What's your drink tonight? I'll have it ready for you." Eric shot him a sidelong glance. "Trying to squeeze more out of me, are you?" he thought.

Still, he shrugged. "Let her decide. Whatever she chooses." "Perfect!" Lennon beamed and dashed off to find Hadley.

"Hadley! Great news!" Hadley, still fixing her makeup, turned to him with a questioning look. "What's got you so giddy>* "You've got a sponsor!" Lennon rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Someone just declared they'll beat any bid by half a million, no matter what!" That was a staggering amount.

The final bids weren't even set yet, but that kind of money was jaw-dropping.

It made sense why Lennon claimed she didn't comprehend the world of the rich when she first voiced doubts about this dance-off event.

The wealthy did toss cash around like confetti.

"Get ready!" Lennon urged, noticing Hadley was still dabbing at her o'm makeup with the precision of an artist adding the final stroke to a masterpiece. "I won't hover, it's not the moment to make an entrance just yet. But pdon't worry, you'll meet him after the competition. And trust me, he's not sold relic clinging to his last strands of hair." "Alright."

Hadley couldn't care less if the man had a full head of curls or was as om bald as the moon. I was just a simple toast to express her gratitude for the generosity-nothing she couldn't handle with ease. Out in the VIP booth, Eric sat like a king surveying his domain, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on the stage.

At last...

The overhead lights dimmed, wrapping the room in anticipation. Was this it? Was she about to step into the spotlight? The music ignited, and small circles of light flickered onto the stage, unfurling like ripples spreading across a midnight lake.

The room was filled with the sound of trickling water.

71.9% 19:20 < Chapter 37 It's TTo Move On Then, from the depths of shadow, she emerged...