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

Chapter 941:

Joy overflowed, and she barely managed to whisper, “This is miraculous.”

“What’s going on?” Eric groaned, pressing his fingers to his temples. A dull throb still lingered in his head.

The last thing he could remember was Christmas Eve at Hadley’s apartment. He had been holding Joy, fireworks were bursting overhead, and Hadley was right there beside him. Then, everything went dark. His eyes darted across the room, taking in the sterile walls and quiet monitors. It was clear—this was a hospital.

How long had he been here? Was it Hadley who brought him in? She must have been terrified.

“Has Hadley been here?” he asked, attempting to sit up.

“Hold on there,” Linda said, brushing aside his question as she helped him adjust, stuffing a pillow behind him for support. “Remember how I pleaded with you to see a doctor that day? You just wouldn’t listen.”

Suddenly, Linda collapsed into Eric’s arms. “Eric, you can’t imagine the fear that gripped me. You’ve been in a coma for an entire week! The doctors weren’t sure if you’d ever wake up. I’ve been here every day and night, terrified to even blink.”

Her tears flowed freely. “I kept thinking that you might end up like Ernest, that you’d also be in a coma for years. Thank goodness you’re awake now. You’re safe!”

“Linda,” Eric said softly, looking down at her. He weakly tried to place his hand on her shoulder, hoping to gently push her back, but his strength hadn’t fully returned. “Please, don’t cry. Look, I’m okay, right?”noveldrama

At the entrance, Hadley and the caregiver quickened their pace toward the room, drawn by the sound of voices and suspecting that Linda might need help with something.

To their astonishment, they saw Eric awake and embracing Linda, both of them in tears.

The caregiver caught Hadley’s eye. “Miss Pearson…”

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Hadley, no stranger to their closeness, remained composed.

With a steady voice, she said, “Let the doctor know he’s regained consciousness.”

“Right away!” The caregiver nodded and hurried off.

Hadley remained in place, watching the scene unfold with a distant look in her eyes. She blinked slowly and then turned her back to the room.

Now that he was awake, she wasn’t needed anymore.

But as she moved, Eric’s eyes caught the silhouette of her departure. “Hadley!” he called out, suddenly finding the strength to disengage from Linda and attempt to rise from the bed.

Linda grabbed him, panic in her voice. “You can’t get up yet. You just woke up!”

“I just saw Hadley,” Eric said, his voice tense with frustration. “Linda, why didn’t you tell me she was here?”

“So what if she’s here?” Linda’s tone sharpened, becoming cold. “Do you really think she wanted to be here? She didn’t, Eric. For three days you lay here, not once did she come to visit. Even Ernest couldn’t persuade her. It took your grandmother’s pleading to finally bring her here!”

“But she showed up, didn’t she?” Eric let out a hollow laugh, bitterness evident on his face. “That’s all that matters now.”

He swung his legs off the bed and reached for the slippers on the floor, already set on leaving.

But the IV line tugged at his arm.

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