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

Chapter 968:

“Hadley, you’re even more insufferable than I imagined!” Linda’s voice cut through the moment like a blade, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she stepped forward, eyes cold with disdain. “Do you get some twisted satisfaction from toying with Eric like this?” The words hit like a slap.

Hadley froze, stunned—then her eyes narrowed, sharp as steel.

“I’m toying with him?” she echoed, her voice low and incredulous. A bitter laugh slipped past her lips. “Unbelievable. This is what I get? After everything, I’m the villain? You know what? I’m done. I’ll get out of the way so the two of you can finally stop pretending. You can confess whatever lingering feelings you have and be together without anyone standing in your way.”

Eric stiffened, blindsided. Linda’s expression faltered, her confidence cracking. Hadley had overheard them.

Eric turned toward her, mouth parting as if to speak, but no words came.noveldrama

He didn’t even know why Linda had said those things. He didn’t understand her motives—and now it was too late to stop the fallout.

“Hadley…” Eric caught her by the arm, his grip firm, unwilling to let her walk away.

“Why are you forcing this?” Hadley said coolly, the corner of her mouth curling into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I already told you—Ernest is with Elissa now. Your path is clear, isn’t it?”

“No, that’s not what I want!” Eric’s voice cracked, hoarse with desperation. “I told you—I only want you.”

Linda’s breath caught. He only wanted Hadley?

His words hit her like a wave, and for a moment, her mask slipped—her expression flickering with disbelief, a faint crack forming in her poise.

Then Linda quickly pulled herself together, turning to Hadley with a tight smile. “So… all this drama is over something I said?” She flicked her eyes to Eric, her voice suddenly flat.

“Yes, I said those things earlier, but I was just joking. We’d both just recently broken up. I was emotional—I didn’t mean any of it.”

𝖀ρ𝓭α𝗍𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝗇ɩү 𝗈𝗇 ɢ𝖺ⅼ𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀․ⅽ𝑜𝗆

Eric’s shoulders eased slightly, seizing onto her words like a lifeline. He turned back to Hadley, hopeful. “See? Did you hear that? She didn’t mean it—it was just a joke.”

But Hadley didn’t even blink. Her gaze remained fixed on Linda, disbelief shimmering just beneath the surface. Did they really think she’d buy this? That she was that naive?

Hadley’s wrist twisted in Eric’s grasp, trying to break free. Her voice was cold. “That’s your problem, not mine. You don’t owe me any explanations.”

“She’s right!” Linda cut in sharply when Eric tried to say something, her voice dipped in disdain. “There’s no need to explain anything to her.”

She then crossed her arms, lips curling into a mocking smile. “You’re still as insufferable as ever, just in a more polished way. Has Eric not spoiled you enough? You really should know your place. You’re not his girlfriend anymore. Even if I do like him—and decide to pursue him—you don’t have the right to say a word about it.”

“Linda!” Eric’s voice tightened, panic flashing in his eyes. “Please, just… stop talking.”

He could feel Hadley’s anger rising, and Linda’s words were only fueling the fire.

But Linda only pursed her lips with a faux-innocent shrug. “I’m saying this for your sake, Eric.”

Hadley suddenly let out a laugh—sharp, cold, and biting. “Wow. You really are something. Do you even hear yourself? No wonder nobody takes you seriously!”

Linda’s face stiffened. “Excuse me? What did you just say?”

“You didn’t get it?” Hadley yanked her wrist free from Eric’s grip and stepped forward, her voice calm but brimming with controlled rage. “Let me spell it out for you. You’ve been juggling feelings for both Eric and Ernest—liking one, wanting the other. But now that Ernest is out of the picture, you come crawling back to Eric, like he’s your fallback plan. Only, it turns out he’s not that easy to manipulate either.” She gave a cold, triumphant chuckle.

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