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

Chapter 816:

“Coming!” Hadley chirped back, her words tumbling into the phone as she spoke to Colleen. “He is summoning me—I’d better see what’s up. Could you handle things for me, please?”

She ended the call with a flick of her thumb, rolled up her sleeves with purpose, and strode into the bathroom.

The moment she crossed the threshold, her eyes narrowed at Eric. “What’s all the hollering about?”

Eric flashed a cheeky grin, lifting his arm like a trophy. “My arm is hurt.”

“Well then,” Hadley quipped, “skip the bath for a few days—problem solved.”

“But I’ll smell like a barn then!” Eric objected. “I can tough it out, but I’d hate to stink up you and the baby.”

As he edged closer, Hadley thrust a finger in his direction, her tone firm. “Stay right there, or I won’t help you.”

“Fine,” Eric relented, planting his feet with a playful smirk. “Am I being good?”

Hadley didn’t dignify that with a reply. Instead, she gently pressed his head down. “Let me wash your hair—close your eyes to keep the water out of them, alright?”

The following day, Eric swung by the TV station to whisk Hadley away. They were bound for the Flynn Mansion that evening, a visit prompted by Nyla, who had caught wind of Hadley’s pregnancy.

Over the moon, Nyla had insisted Eric ferry Hadley home so she could fuss over her granddaughter-in-law herself.

With just two days until the big recording, Hadley’s schedule was a whirlwind.

Eric strolled into the station, parking himself outside the practice room like a patient sentinel.

When the session wrapped, the door swung open, and Eric’s eyes darted through the crowd, hunting for Hadley.

Start your next adventure at gαℓησv𝒆ℓs․com

“Eric!” Megan burst out like a jack-in-the-box, darting toward him and reaching for his arm. “Here for me, I hope?”

Eric didn’t flinch, just sidestepped her grasp with the grace of a dancer, his gaze sliding past her to land on Hadley emerging behind. “Hadley,” he called softly.

Megan’s lips pursed in a pout, but Eric was already moving, closing the gap to take Hadley’s hand. “Feeling worn out? How is our baby holding up?”

In his book, pregnancy meant Hadley should kick back at home, feet up, worries off.

But Hadley wasn’t having it.

“Plenty of women work right up to delivery,” she had argued with a spark of defiance. “I’ll take it easy—I promise. Besides, lounging around all day won’t do me or the baby any favors.” Eric had no choice but to wave the white flag.noveldrama

“I’m fine,” Hadley assured him, flashing him a smile. “Give me a sec to change—won’t be long.”

“Take your time,” Eric replied with a nod.

As Hadley slipped away, Megan turned to Eric, her pout deepening. “I was mid-sentence—why did you brush me off?”

Eric flicked his eyes her way, cool as a cucumber. “Was there something pressing?”

“We had a blast the other day, didn’t we?” Megan pressed on, undeterred by his frostiness. “Let’s hang out again—tonight, maybe?”

Eric let out a dry chuckle. “And why would I do that?”

.

.

.