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

Chapter 179 Don’t Take Hadley’s Things

The buzz-cut man wheezed, gasping through the pain, his body trembling from the brutal beating.

“Don’t let her fool you-that woman is a menace! Even after | had her cornered, she smashed through the car

window with a kick! She grabbed a glass shard-stabbedwith it!”

To prove his words, he yanked up his sleeve, revealing a mess of jagged cuts and dried blood.

“Look! She did this! All of it!”

Tears streaked his face, his bravado shattered.

“Shut up!” Eric snapped. “Stop your pathetic whining-I asked you where she is!”

“I-1 don’t know...”

Still nothing.

Eric's grip tightened, his rage swelling like a storm. Exhaling sharply, his gaze dropped to Linda, still clinging

desperately to his waist. “Linda.” He locked eyes with her, his tone dangerously steady. “Move. I'm going to kill

him!”

The bastard wouldn't talk until he was staring death in the face.

“No!” Her pulse pounded, but she didn’t waver. “I think... he really doesn’t know!”

“I swear! | really don’t know!” The man sobbed, his breath ragged. “She stabbedand then bolted out of the

car! I... | tried, but | couldn’t catch up!”

“Eric!”

Linda’s voice cut through the tension, her grip tightening around him as she looked up at his face. “I think he’s

telling the truth. At this point, lying wouldn't help him.”

Eric understood, but his chest felt heavy. Where the hell could Hadley have gone?

If she had fought back with a glass shard, was she hurt, too?

His eyes snapped open. “Where?”

The man blinked through his swollen face, confused. “W-What? What do you mean-where?”

‘Unless you want to die, tellwhere she ran off to?”

“Eric!” Linda tightened her grip, pulling him back just as his body tensed.

“I know! | know!”

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< Chapter 179 Don’t Take Hadley’s Things

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The man nearly choked on his words, his entire body trembling with fear.

“Rayton Road!” he blurted out, his voice cracking. “She got off there! That's where we lost her!”

His eyes darted around wildly, panic flooding his expression. “I swear! | don’t know anything else! She ran, and

that’s it! That's all | know-I swear on my life!”

Rayton Road.

In his wheelchair, Ernest sat in quiet contemplation, his brows slightly furrowed. After a moment, he spoke. “Eric,

that’s enough. You can let him go now.”

Lowering his gaze, he regarded the shaking man on the floor with cold disdain.

His voice was calm-but chilling.

“Listen carefully. If even one word you've said is a lie-I won't take your life, but here, in Srixby, | have ways to

make every single day a living hell for you.”

Without another glance, Ernest pressed a button on his wheelchair and turned away.

“Quentin.”

“Yes.” Quentin immediately stepped forward, his movements crisp, professional. “I'll send someone to Rayton

Road right away.”

Rayton Road.

The intersection was eerily quiet-an isolated stretch with no signs of life.

If Hadley had gotten off here, there was no telling where could have gone.

Quentin and Phillips had spent the entire night combing the area, leading searches in every possible direction.

But nothing.

Eventually, dawn broke...

Eric hadn't closed his eyes all night.

Sleep was impossible. After all, Hadley had been missing for almost 24 hours.

She had left without a coat, without her phone-without anything.

She had no family, no close friends in Srixby.

Where was she now?, Alone? Freezing? Starving?

And worst of all-why was he still here, unharmed? Why wasn’t he the one suffering?

“Any news?” Nyla stood at the foot of the stairs, arms crossed, her face drawn with anxiety. “Where could she

have gone?”

The report from Quentin and Phillips was grim. They had scoured every inch of Rayton Road. Still-nothing. No

check-ins at hotels, inns, or hostels.

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No sign of her at train stations, airports-not even a whisper in accident reports.

She had vanished. As if she had never existed.

Linda stepped into the room, attempting to soften the unbearable tension.

“Nyla, Ernest, Eric-breakfast is ready. You should eat.”

“How can I?” Nyla sighed, her voice heavy, her arms tightening around herself.

Linda placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I know you're worried. We all are. But you can’t help Hadley if

you're running on empty.”

Her gaze shifted to Ernest, her tone turning more insistent. “And you-you're still recovering, Skipping meals

won't help.”

Ernest hesitated, but then gave a short nod. “Alright.”

His eyes flicked toward Eric, who stood motionless, staring blankly at the floor. “You should eat too.”

“I'll pass.” Eric’s voice was rough, barely above a whisper. “Grandma, Ernest-you should eat, but | can’t.”

“Eric...” Linda started, but then-

“Let him be.” Ernest's voice cut through the room, calm yet absolute. “He’s the one in the wrong. Let him face

the consequences.”

Linda stiffened. Ernest wasn’t just pitying Hadley, was he? He was taking her side.

Upstairs.

Eric didn’t return to his own room. Instead, his feet carried him toward Hadley’s. He walked in, barely registering

his movements, and collapsed onto her bed fully clothed, his body heavy with exhaustion.

Burying his face into her pillow, he inhaled deeply-clinging to the faint traces of her scent.

“Where are you, Hadley?”

He hadn't slept all night. But even here, lying in the warmth of her space, rest wouldn't come. Closing his eyes

only made the unease worse.

Tblurred. At spoint, a knock sounded at the door.

Phillips.

“Mr. Flynn?”

Eric forced himself up, dragging his exhausted body to the door. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Phillips. “What is

it?”

“It’s...”

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Phillips hesitated. He could tell Eric was in no mood for conversation, but the company matters couldn't wait.

Eric listened as Phillips relayed the situation, and then gave a tired nod. “Okay. | get it. I'll get ready and head

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Chapter 179 Don’t Take Hadley’s Things

to the company as soon as | can.”

“Understood, Mr. Flynn.”

A cold shower, a quick shave, fresh clothes-none of it made him feel any more awake.

Just as he was straightening his sleeves, Linda appeared in the doorway.

Her gaze swept over him, immediately noticing the red-rimmed eyes, the deep shadows under them. “You're

heading to the company, aren't you?” Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant. “You should eat something before

you go.”

“No need.”

“Eric, please listen.” She reached out, gripping his arm firmly.

“If you were resting at home, | wouldn't push, but you're going to work-running on nothing but stress and

exhaustion. How long do you think you can keep this up?”

“Linda, please.”

Eric inhaled deeply, his patience already wearing thin. “How can | eat when | don’t even know if Hadley is out

there starving?”

Then-a bitter laugh slipped past Linda's lips. “And that's my fault?” she scoffed, eyes flashing. “Why are you

taking it out on me?”

Eric's restraint snapped.

“Linda,” he called out, his brows furrowing. “From now on-stay away from Hadley’s things.”

Her expression hardened. “What did | take from her?”

“I know about that dress.”

His voice was sharp, unforgiving. “You knew it was meant for Hadley, yet you still took it.”

Then-she laughed again, this tin disbelief. “Ha!” She scoffed, shaking her head. “You're actually accusing

me? Over a dress?”

Eric said nothing, his jaw clenching.

“I'm just saying...” His voice dropped. “If Hadley had worn that dress-if she had gone to that party-maybe none

of this would have happened.”

“What's that?” Linda took a step forward, her gaze drilling into his. “Are you saying that | am to blfor

Hadley’s disappearance?”

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