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

Chapter 946:

As she spoke, her other hand drifted to her chest. “I’m worried about him, dear. Truly.”

Hadley looked between Nyla’s worried eyes and Eric’s pale face. Her resolve wavered. With a resigned sigh, she gave a small nod. “Alright… I’ll stay a few more days.”

Nyla’s face lit up with relief. She gently smoothed Hadley’s hair like a proud grandmother. “Good girl. Don’t worry—now that I’m here, I won’t let him mistreat you again.”

“Grandma!” Eric whined from the bed, half amused and half desperate.

“I won’t—I wouldn’t dare! Right, Hadley?”

“You’d better not!” Nyla shot back with a pointed look.

Meanwhile, from a quiet corner of the room, Linda stood frozen. A cold heaviness settled over her heart, spreading like ice through her chest.

While Eric underwent treatment, the room had quieted. Nyla and Linda had already left, and in the outer room, Hadley was seated on the sofa, video-calling Joy, her voice soft and gentle.

Inside, Ernest sat by Eric’s bedside, his tone more serious than usual. Over the past two days, Ernest had quietly gathered some unsettling news.

“I got word,” Ernest said, leaning in slightly. “Gifford’s been shipped off—sent overseas.”

Eric’s eyes snapped open wider. “What? By who?”

The two brothers locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between them. They didn’t need to say the name out loud. There was only one person capable of pulling strings like that.

“Ferris,” Eric murmured, the name leaving his lips like a shadow.

“Yes.” Ernest nodded solemnly.

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s．𝒸𝗈𝗺 brings magic to life

During the days Eric had been unconscious, he hadn’t been idle—he’d been digging.

“It was Gifford,” he said. “He tampered with your car.”

Eric’s expression darkened, but before he could speak, Ernest continued, “Before I could move against him, Ferris stepped in. He sent Gifford abroad—quietly, efficiently.”

Eric’s brow furrowed, thick and tense with thought. “What does that mean? What’s his angle?”

Ernest exhaled, shaking his head. “No idea. He’s always been hard to read.”

The room fell into a contemplative silence before Ernest added, more quietly, “Now only Garry remains in the Scott family.”

Eric nodded slowly.

It was true—of all Ferris Scott’s sons, Garry was the last still standing in Srixby. The rest had either vanished… or been erased.

“Ernest.” Hadley looked up from her phone call just as Ernest stepped out of Eric’s room.

“Hadley,” he said to her with a composed nod. His voice, as always, was calm and steady. “You’ve worked hard these past few days.”

Hadley offered a small smile—gracious, but without unnecessary modesty. From inside the room, Eric’s voice floated out, edged with a faint whine. “Hadley!”

Ernest’s brow twitched at the sound. He sighed lightly. “I’ll leave Eric to you. I have to head out.”

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