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

Chapter 819:

It was clear Elissa had orchestrated her escape with cunning precision. Of course, the bodyguard and servant’s carelessness played its part—they had foolishly assumed Elissa’s blindness tethered her in place.

Ernest gripped the phone, his eyes hardening like flint. “I’ll be there shortly.”

After hanging up, he readied himself to depart.

“Where are you off to?” Nyla piped up. “Won’t you stay for supper?”

“Something has come up that needs my attention.” Ernest flashed a warm smile. “Grandma, with Locke and Hadley here, you’ll be fine. Please enjoy your meal without me.”

Seizing the moment, Hadley shot a discreet glance at Eric.

Her plate was a mountain of food she couldn’t hope to conquer alone. Eric caught her signal like a hawk and, while Nyla chattered with Ernest, deftly slid Hadley’s excess onto his own plate. “Alright, you can finish the rest,” he murmured.

Hadley pressed her lips together, poised to take a bite.

“You little rascal!” Nyla whirled around and landed a playful swat on Eric’s head. “How old are you now? Can’t you serve yourself? Why poach Hadley’s share?”

“Grandma!” Eric protested, rubbing the sting. “Hadley has been off her feed lately. She can’t manage all you’ve heaped on her—she has been craving soup instead.”

“Is that true?” Nyla’s hand brushed Hadley’s head with tender concern. “Why didn’t you say so, dear?”

She summoned the servant with a brisk call. “Hurry now! Bring Hadley some soup—nothing too rich!”

Then, scooping up Hadley’s plate, she dumped the remaining food into…

Eric’s. “There you go, finish it off.”

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Both Eric and Hadley blinked in surprise.

Since their visits were rare as hen’s teeth, Nyla insisted they stay for the night.

They had once had separate rooms, but with Hadley expecting, Eric wouldn’t hear of it. He insisted on bunking in hers.

“If you’re parched at night or get a sudden craving for something, I’ll be here to fetch it for you.”

Eric lifted the blanket and patted the bed with a grin. “Hop in.”

“Alright,” Hadley replied, a quiet ache tugging at her heart.

She couldn’t deny it—since the news of her pregnancy broke, Eric had been doting on her like never before.

As her eyes fluttered shut, she wished those four years between them could vanish like mist. But the past was a stubborn ghost, impossible to banish or unwrite.

Just as Eric reached to douse the light, Hadley’s phone trilled.

“Who would ring at this hour?” he wondered aloud.

Hadley frowned, equally baffled. She snatched it up—a landline number glowed on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Hadley! It’s me, Elissa!”

“Elissa?” Hadley bolted upright, stunned. “Where are you? Are you alright?”

“Hadley, can you come for me? I’m sorry to drag you into this, but I really had no one else to turn to.”

“Of course! Tell me where you are—I’ll be there in a flash!”

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