After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 18

**Clocks Lie To Hearts by Asa River Flint**

**18**

“What am I supposed to do about it?” Louisa chuckled, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Didn’t Mr. Capulet already make it abundantly clear that I’m not part of the Capulet Group anymore when he handed over the marketing department I painstakingly built from the ground up to someone else?”

That ‘someone else’ was none other than Vivian, a fact that hung in the air between them like a dark cloud.

George, struggling to maintain his composure, felt his jaw tighten as he replied, “Vivian may be the new face, but the Capulet Group is still ours. We created it together, brick by brick.”

She had thought he had forgotten that pivotal moment, but it seemed his memory was sharper than she had anticipated.

Louisa took a deliberate bite of her sandwich, savoring the moment before swallowing hard and replying slowly, “Well, I suppose I should thank you for at least acknowledging my efforts.”

Her casual demeanor was like a match to gasoline, igniting George’s frustration.

He shot her a piercing glare, his patience wearing thin, before snatching her phone from the table without uttering a single word.

Realizing his intent, Louisa sprang around the table, her heart racing. “George, give it back!” she shouted, desperation creeping into her voice.

George, towering over her by several inches, held the phone high above his head with one hand while gripping her wrist with the other, rendering her helpless.

Louisa could barely reach her phone, the gap between them feeling insurmountable.

With swift fingers, he navigated through her phone, locating the app she used to book her flight, and without hesitation, he canceled her ticket.

He returned the phone to her, his expression unreadable. “The ticket’s canceled. You’re not leaving today.”

Furious, Louisa hurled the phone at him, her voice seething with anger. “George, you jerk!”

He didn’t flinch; instead, he let the phone collide with his face, a small cut forming near his eye as a testament to her fury.

She needed to vent, and he stood there, a silent witness to her rage.

Louisa glared at him, her eyes icy. “You want me to clean up your mess? Keep dreaming!”

With that, she snatched her phone and stormed upstairs, leaving George standing in the wake of her storm.

He turned away from the house, knowing he didn’t necessarily need Louisa to solve the problem; he was more than capable of handling it himself.

Yet, he couldn’t shake the irritation that her indifferent attitude toward the company stirred within him.

Back in her room, Louisa attempted to book another flight, her frustration mounting with each failed attempt.

But with the weekend fast approaching, every ticket was sold out, leaving her with no options.

**2:14 am**

**Chapter 18**

Resigned, she typed a message to her two friends in their group chat: [I can’t make it. George canceled my flight.]

The message was short, but her mind raced with thoughts of her friends, who had already packed their bags, and Sadie, who had rearranged her schedule just to join them.

Now, because of her, their much-anticipated trip was in jeopardy.

She quickly added, [Sorry for ruining the plan. Maybe you two should go ahead, and I’ll catch up with you later.]

To her surprise, her friends responded with a flurry of outrage directed at George, cursing him without hesitation and promptly canceling their own tickets.

The three of them were a unit, and they would stick together, no matter the circumstances.

That day, George didn’t return home until the late hours of the night, and the following morning, he was gone again before the sun had fully risen.

It was evident—the Capulet Group was in dire straits.

But Louisa couldn’t have cared less.

Seeing Louisa’s relaxed demeanor only fueled Hazel’s anger, her teeth grinding together. “Because that $2 billion investment wasn’t just thrown away!”

Her words were sharp and filled with urgency. Anyone else might have felt a pang of guilt, but not Louisa.

Her contributions to the Capulet Group over the years were worth far more than that amount, and she accepted the money with a clear conscience.

With a slow smile, she replied, “I don’t understand, Mrs. Capulet. We had a clear agreement: I divorce, $2 billion. How can you just change the terms?”

“How much do you want?” Hazel spat through clenched teeth, her patience wearing thin.

Louisa didn’t hesitate, her voice steady as she named her price. “Add another billion, making it three, and I’ll take care of the Capulet Group’s problems.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Hazel shrieked, incredulous.

She couldn’t believe Louisa had the audacity to make such a request.

In truth, Louisa had merely thrown out a figure, having no intention of fixing the Capulet Group’s issues; she simply wanted to put up a barrier between them.

But if Hazel was willing to pay, Louisa wouldn’t mind pocketing an extra billion.

After all, she had nothing to lose.

Louisa lounged back on the couch, sipping her tea and scrolling through her phone, while Hazel sat across from her, seething with frustration.

But deep down, she knew the marketing department’s issues were complex and not easily resolved.

The Capulet Group’s revival hinged on the success of that department; it was the very backbone of their operations, and a single day of inactivity could lead to catastrophic losses.

After a moment of contemplation, Hazel relented, her glare still fixed on Louisa. “Fine, I agree. Go fix it now!”

At worst, she’d appease Louisa to solve the immediate crisis and deal with the financials later.

But Louisa saw through her scheme, nodding with a sense of satisfaction. “Then let’s draft a contract. We’ll sign it in black and white, and then I’ll feel secure.”