After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135

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Louisa had to stifle a laugh. Did Julian know this was his reputation among the workers?

“Mr. Tudor is worth billions,” she said, containing her amusement. “Would he really need to steal your wages?”

The foreman shrugged. “Who knows? We don’t know what the boss is like, just as he doesn’t know what we’re like.”

“If they’re cutting your pay so severely,” Louisa asked, “why do you continue working here? Why not look for other opportunities?”

“What other opportunities? At our age, construction work is all we know. We have families to feed.”

“We could only keep going and pray that someday God will help us get our money back.”

“Get it back? We should be grateful if they just stop cutting our pay.”

“That’s true.”

The workers chimed in one after another, each adding to the chorus of resignation.

Finally, the old foreman sighed. “Actually, we’re all doing okay compared to Paul.”

“Who’s Paul?” Louisa inquired.

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The foreman pointed to the man working at height. “That’s him. He had a daughter late in life, born with leukemia. His wife couldn’t handle the burden and ran off with someone else, leaving just him and the little girl.

“The poor man is drowning in medical bills. We even collected donations for him recently. He works day and night, desperate to earn enough for his daughter’s surgery. But a hundred grand? How will he ever save that much?”

Louisa looked up at the lone figure laboring in the heat, hunched over, occasionally wiping sweat with his sleeve.

‘He looks exhausted,” she said with concern. “Someone should call him down to rest before something dangerous happens. All of you look worn out too, especially the older ones. You should take a couple days off.”

“That’s impossible! I can’t afford to rest. One day off means at least 120 dollars less–that’s five days of food for my family.”

“Exactly! I can’t rest either. My good–for–nothing son has taken out loans I’m helping him repay.”

“My daughter isn’t married yet. I’m saving for her wedding.”

“My wife is sick. Her medicine costs a fortune every month. I can’t stop working.”

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Chapter 135

Each worker carried their own burden.

Louisa fell silent for a moment. “Your wages won’t be cut,” she finally said. “And you’ll get paid time off.”

The workers stared at her in disbelief. “Miss, who are you exactly?”

Marlee stepped forward. “We might as well tell you–we’re from Tudor Group headquarters, Investment Department. This is Ms. Forbes,

head of Team Seven.”

Everyone froze.

The old foreman eyed Louisa suspiciously. “Ms. Forbes, is it? We don’t know anything about investment departments or team leaders. You bring us water, chat with us… what are you really after? Are you spying on us? Checking if we’re slacking off?”

The others grew tense as well.

“Spying? Hardly,” Louisa replied. “You’re workers on this project, and I’m the new project manager. We’re not enemies. Don’t worry–I’ll investigate what you’ve told me. If the company is indeed withholding your wages, I promise that within three days, every cent owed to you will be paid back.”

“Miss, do you really mean that?” Their voices trembled with shock.

Marlee tugged at Louisa’s sleeve and whispered urgently, “Ms. Forbes, please don’t make promises that you can’t keep. Verifying their wages takes time. Investigating who’s behind the embezzlement takes time. Filing reports takes time.

“Getting approval takes time. This can’t possibly be resolved in three days–and that’s assuming headquarters even approves it.”

This was the reality of corporate bureaucracy.

Louisa patted her hand reassuringly and turned back to the workers. Some had already begun to cry.

‘Ms. Forbes, are you serious?”

‘Will we really get our money back?”

Their voices quavered as they looked at her with desperate hope.

Louisa nodded with a smile. “I guarantee it. Everything I’ve said is true. I keep my promises.”

The workers exchanged glances, then collectively knelt before her. “Ms. Forbes, thank you! Thank you from our entire families!”

Alarmed, Louisa rushed to help them up. “Please stand up! Don’t do this. Someone in the company has been stealing your wages–this isn’t Mr. Tudor’s intention. Once we uncover the truth, the company will make things right. Please get up.

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Chapter 135

“And regarding Paul’s situation, I’ll report that too. The company can provide assistance. Don’t worry–please call him down now.”

Everyone rose, overcome with emotion.

Up above, Paul heard their cheers but couldn’t make out what they were saying. He had been crouching, tying steel reinforcements, his mind foggy from exhaustion.

He hadn’t properly rested in days, and sweat drenched his face, head, and body.

He was about to stand up to relieve his dizziness when the foreman, not noticing Paul’s unsteadiness, shouted, ‘Paul! Come down! Someone’s here to help us–your daughter can be saved!”

Paul only caught the last part. He spun around, hardly believing his ears. “What did you say? My daughter can be saved?”

“Yes! Come down quickly!”

The news stunned Paul completely. He rose unsteadily to his feet.

No one anticipated what happened next–As he stood, he accidentally bumped the heavy rebar cutter beside him.

The tool plummeted straight toward Louisa’s head.

Marlee spotted it and screamed: “Ms. Forbes! Look out!”

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