Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You can’t afford me now

Chapter 967:

“Not yet,” Linda said, shaking her head and folding her arms. After a beat, she admitted, “I just felt awkward around your brother, so I wandered over.”

She and Ernest had grown up together, entwined as partners for over ten years before their split. Now, they were slowly drifting apart.

Eric paused, then ventured, “You holding up alright?”

“Huh?” Linda blinked, caught off guard, but then laughed. “I’m good. Why wouldn’t I be? It’s just a breakup—half the world’s been through one. It’s not Armageddon.”

She then turned the spotlight on him. “Aren’t you in the same mess?” Her tone carried a hint of skepticism. “Hadley told me you two split, and you were the one who pulled the plug. Is that true?” Eric couldn’t dodge it.

He had ended things with Hadley over a misunderstanding, believing she’d terminated her pregnancy… It was his call, and the regret gnawed at him. “Yeah,” he admitted with a nod.

In the bathroom, Hadley stepped out of a stall and rinsed her hands at the sink. She hadn’t left the hospital—just taken a quick break to change her tampon since her period had started that day.

Hands clean, she exited and made her way back toward the exam room where Eric had been waiting. The hospital corridors were quiet at night, especially around the testing areas.

As she reached a corner, she overheard a conversation between a man and a woman, causing her to stop abruptly.

“That clears it up…” Linda was saying, referencing the crew dinner from earlier. “She swapped WhatsApp with that driver, saying she didn’t have a boyfriend.”

She let out a sudden laugh. “Aren’t we both in the same situation?” Linda’s pulse quickened as she spoke, though she kept her cool, her voice laced with a playful edge. “So, what do you think of me?”

“What?” Eric faltered, thrown by her shift.

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“Eric,” Linda said, her smile dimming as nerves crept in. Her eyes shimmered faintly. “If I had known it would end up like this, I would’ve picked you back then. We get each other, rarely clash, and we’d probably get along well.”

She held his gaze, summoning her resolve. “Eric, if I choose you now, is it too late?”

Around the corner, Hadley’s breath hitched, her eyes widening as she instinctively retreated. She’d just caught Linda laying her heart bare to Eric!

This wasn’t the time to barge in. Maybe she should just leave.

A night-shift janitor, busy cleaning the floor, looked up in mild surprise at Hadley’s sudden backstep. “Miss, could you please lift your foot? You’re standing on my mop.”

Hadley spun around, raising her foot with a sheepish chuckle. “Oh, sorry.”

“No worries,” the janitor replied.

“Hadley?”

Eric, still reeling from Linda’s words, caught the exchange nearby.

That was Hadley’s voice!

He darted over and spotted her. Relief flooded him. “Hadley, you didn’t leave? Where did you…”

Before he could finish, Hadley saw Linda trailing close behind and forced a tight smile. “I’m heading out now.” She started to turn.

“Where are you going?”noveldrama

Eric latched onto her arm, but Hadley’s eyes iced over. “I’m not required to tell you my every destination, am I?”

Eric’s brow furrowed, his stare growing shadowed. “I’m just worried about you…”

“No need,” Hadley replied, her smile thin and fleeting. “Save that for someone who would appreciate it.”

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