ANTIPODE LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE

Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't Afford Me Now

Theodora Birnir

The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."

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I think I saw something from outside the house. That made me leave the stranger's house and go out to see what's glowing I'm seeing. When I got near it, I saw a small castle that looked like a child's toy and got excited.

What a lucky baby! She was just about to get born but she already has her castle to play with. But then a small man with a pointy red hat greeted me. It's a dwarf as I recognize one from the cartoons.

That castle is not a toy but a real one. The dwarf standing in front of me must live there. I'm only four years old but I know what I'm seeing is real. I get gigglish seeing the castle now displayed with some little flags around it.

"It's a fiesta! Do you want to come inside?" The dwarf asked me.

I giggled, being this young makes me not be afraid of anything. But I declined the dwarf's invitation. Unaware that it's the first good decision I ever made in my life.

"I wouldn't fit inside! That castle is very small!" I said and giggled some more.

My mother is a midwife and she sometimes brings me to her patients' houses when somebody is about to give birth. Living in the province, houses are mostly located in the middle of the forest.

"I have my magic little girl! I can make you smaller so you can fit inside. It's fun there." The dwarf said again.

"I'm already small. I want to be big, not smaller." I complained.

"You don't need to be bigger. If you do, you will never see what's inside that castle." He said again.

"Oh, I don't know. My mom will finish delivering the baby soon. She would get mad if she didn't see me right away." I replied.

"That baby will also go inside the castle with us. It won't take long. Let's go now!" The dwarf holds my hand.

"Okay, but just for a short time." I agreed and smiled at the dwarf who is now smiling bigger.

The dwarf takes out something from his pocket. It looks like candy but it's black.

"Before we can get in, have some candy first so you can fit in!" He offered.

"Hey, little girl! What are you doing there? Come inside the house now! Your mother is waiting for you!``said the old woman.

Before I could take the black candy from the dwarf, I jerked hearing the old woman's voice, and looked up to her. She's very old, like a hundred years old. Or maybe that's what I thought as a kid.

I stood up since I realized I was kneeling from the ground. Then I look back in the dwarf's direction. He's no longer there. The grand castle doesn't look that grand anymore. It's now just a pile of dirt that looks like an anthill.

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