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

Chapter 152 How

Shameless Can You Be

Hadley made her way back to her room.

Located two floors beneath Denver's, her journey required an elevator ride.

As she stepped out of the elevator, her phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, and it was a domestic call.

With a brief pause, Hadley connected the call. “Hello?”

The voice on the other end sounded vaguely familiar. “Hadley, it’s Wilma Moran.”

Instantly, Hadley tensed up; it was Denver's mother!

Dread began to seep into her as she realized Denver had just checked in and now his mother was on the line.

“Mrs. Moran.” Hadley inhaled sharply. “What can | do for you?”

“This isn’t something | can explain over the phone. We need to meet in person.”

Hadley felt a wave of unease again. “Mrs. Moran, are you...?"”

“Yes,” Wilma answered bluntly.

“I'm at your hotel. Meetat the lounge cafe. I'll be there.”

With a click, the call ended.

Staring at her phone, Hadley knew avoidance wasn’t an option. She made up her mind to face whatever came

her way.

The cafe was relatively empty at this time.

As Hadley stepped inside, she immediately spotted Wilma at a window table, her face partially hidden behind

sunglasses as she sipped her coffee.

She quickened her steps and approached her. “Mrs. Moran.”

Noticing her arrival, Wilma removed her sunglasses and gestured to the chair across from her. “Please, have a

seat.”

Thank you,” Hadley responded, settling into the chair as suggested.

“Would you care for a drink?” Wilma offered, maintaining a courteous demeanor.

“No, thanks,” Hadley replied, declining with a shake of her head.

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Chapter 152 How Shameless Can You Be

Located two floors beneath Denver's, her journey required an elevator ride.

As she stepped out of the elevator, her phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, and it was a domestic call. With

a brief pause, Hadley connected the call. “Hello?”

The voice on the other end sounded vaguely familiar. “Hadley, it’s Wilma Moran.”

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

Instantly, Hadley tensed up; it was Denver's mother!

Dread began to seep into her as she realized Denver had just checked in and now his mother was on the line.

“Mrs. Moran.” Hadley inhaled sharply. “What can | do for you?”

“This isn’t something | can explain over the phone. We need to meet in person.”

Hadley felt a wave of unease again. “Mrs. Moran, are you...?"”

“Yes,” Wilma answered bluntly.

“I'm at your hotel. Meetat the lounge cafe. I'll be there.”

With a click, the call ended.

Staring at her phone, Hadley knew avoidance wasn’t an option. She made up her mind to face whatever came

her way.

The cafe was relatively empty at this time.

As Hadley stepped inside, she immediately spotted Wilma at a window table, her face partially hidden behind

sunglasses as she sipped her coffee.

She quickened her steps and approached her. “Mrs. Moran.”

Noticing her arrival, Wilma removed her sunglasses and gestured to the chair across from her. “Please, have a

seat.”

“Thank you,” Hadley responded, settling into the chair as suggested.

“Would you care for a drink?” Wilma offered, maintaining a courteous demeanor.

“No, thanks,” Hadley replied, declining with a shake of her head.

“You might as well,” Wilma suggested with a smile. “I'm here to talk, not to argue. Relax a little-can | order

something for you then?”

Before Hadley could answer, Wilma caught the attention of a server.

“Could we have a hot oat latte here for my friend, please?”

“Of course.”

With the order placed, Hadley felt compelled to express her gratitude. “Thank you, Mrs. Moran.”

“You're welcome,” Wilma replied, maintaining her smile, which now seemed to carry a touch of regret. “The last

twe met, | admit things turned sour. | acted hastily and without courtesy. | hope | didn’t frighten you.”

“Absolutely not!” Caught off guard, Hadley dismissed the concern with a wave of her hand. “You were merely

being honest. It’s nothing | can’t handle.”

“Really?” Wilma’s expression turned curious. “If you believe | was just being honest, does this mean you're

considering not staying with Denver?”

At that moment, the waiter delivered the oat latte and placed it before Hadley. “Here's your latte.”

“Thanks.”

Hadley grasped the cup but hesitated to drink.

Observing her hesitation, Wilma’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Take a sip, and let's continue our discussion.”

“Alright.” Hadley sipped the latte reluctantly.

She had actually prepared her speech carefully on the way to the cafe.

Meeting Wilma'’s gaze firmly, Hadley said, “I may not be the ideal match for Denver by many standards, but I'm

not in a position to make any promises.”

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“What are you implying?”

Wilma'’s smile faltered.

Speaking more gently, Hadley said, “I suspect the real reason you're here isn’t to talk to me, but because you've

been unable to sway Denver, am | right?”

Wilma’s response was a silent, uncomfortable look.

“Mrs. Moran,” Hadley continued, sensing she had struck a nerve. Denver remained firm in his decision, refusing

to give in to his family’s pressures.

His affection for her was deep and true.

“Forgivefor being so bold, but if Denver is okay with it, | would very much like to stay by his side...”

“Enough!”

Wilma’s expression darkened instantly, cutting Hadley off mid-sentence. Her glare was as sharp as knives,

boring into Hadley.

“Humph!”

Wilma sneered, her voice carrying a chilling tone.

“The audacity! How shameless can you be? What gives you the right to say something like that?”

Upon feeling the tension, Hadley’s posture tensed, her hands sweating. “I'm sorry, Mrs. Moran, but have you

thought about what Denver wants?”

“Shut up!” Wilma’s facade crumbled. “Do you really think you have the right to talk tolike this?”

Hadley’s lips pressed firmly together.

It dawned on her that it was tto leave.

She stood up. “Mrs. Moran, I'm sincerely sorry... | should go now.”

She nodded slightly to Wilma, pushed back her chair, and left.

As Hadley departed, Wilma'’s eyes narrowed. She grabbed her phone and swiftly made a call. “Alright, you can

go ahead.”

After receiving a reply, Wilma ended the call with a smug look.

As she watched Hadley walk away, Wilma muttered under her breath, “This is on you. You ignored the warnings,

so now you'll deal with the consequences. Denver's my son, and it’s my duty to protect his future!”

Leaving the cafe, Hadley sensed something amiss. Her body felt unusually weak, as if drained of energy.

What was happening?

Could this be due to her rising too early and missing breakfast, leading to low blood sugar?

Her thoughts were interrupted when she lost her balance and stumbled.

FAN

Caught off guard, Hadley exclaimed in surprise.

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“Watch out!”

In an instant, someone steadied her.

“Thank you,” Hadley said reflexively, looking up to find a stranger holding her.

Yet, the deeper problem was that this man seemed to have malicious intentions.

“You look a bit frail. I can walk you to your room,” he said with an overly friendly smile.

“No...” Feeling the threat, Hadley recoiled. “Who are you, and what do you want from me?” “Just calm down,” he

replied with an unsettling calm. “Mrs. Moran sent me. You've left her no choice but to involvesince you

refuse to stay away from her son.”

What did he mean?

“No...”

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It dawned on Hadley that her sudden weakness might be Wilma’s doing.

The latte!

A chill ran through her as she realized the lengths to which Wilma might go.

“Relax,” the man said, holding her close, trying to reassure her. “You're so beautiful. I'll make sure you're taken

care of.”

“No...”

“Darling, you don’t get to choose!”

“Let her go!”

As the man tried to lift her, a tall figure stepped in, delivering a solid punch that sent him sprawling.

With a thud, the man fell to the floor.

“Hadley!” Eric dove to catch her, preventing her from collapsing as well.

“Who the fuck are you?” The man staggered to his feet, seething at Eric.

“Humph.” With a dismissive snort, Eric balanced Hadley with one arm and raised his phone with the other.

“Everything's been recorded and saved to the cloud. Now why don’t you just scram? Or shall | involve the

police?”

The threat drained the color from the man’s face. He gritted his teeth and spat out, “Fuck! I'm out of here!” After

the man stormed off, Eric looked down at Hadley, still in his arms, and scolded her, “You can’t even handle a

simple relationship! Do you always have to get yourself into trouble?”

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