After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186

Louisa could barely register what Julian was saying. Surrounded by darkness, her voice trembled, “Why did we come here? Can’t we get

out?”

“Of course we can, but we’re already inside. Should we go forward or backward? You decide.”

Clinging tightly to his arm, she looked ahead, then behind–darkness everywhere. Her voice shook uncontrollably. “T–then, let’s go

forward.”

Retreating wasn’t her style.

Julian nodded and was about to step forward when she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. “Don’t leave me behind.”

With her softness pressed against him, Julian’s breathing grew uneven.

“The way you’re holding me,” he said with gentle exasperation, “I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to.”

He embraced her and realized she was trembling all over. She truly was afraid of the dark. What had she experienced to make someone with her personality so terrified?

“Look up at me,” he said.

“No.” She buried her face against his neck.

Julian sighed. “Louisa, look up!” His voice was steady and commanding, yet reassuring.

Slowly, Louisa raised her head to meet his gaze. Her eyelashes trembled, her eyes filled with fear.

He lifted his hand, gently stroking her hair. “I won’t leave you behind.”

That single sentence melted something inside her. Somehow, the darkness seemed less frightening.

Though surrounded by blackness, his eyes shone like stars–gazing into them was like looking into an endless galaxy. There was a steadying power in them. Her fear gradually subsided.

Julian took her hand, guiding her behind him. “Climb on,” he said, crouching in front of her.

Louisa climbed onto his broad back, her legs wrapped around his waist. He supported her thighs with his hands and continued walking. She held tightly around his neck.

His steps were steady and unhurried. Suddenly, he asked, “Want to tell me–if these monsters could really transform into someone familiar, who would you want that person to be?”

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Louisa was startled. How did he know what she was thinking? She remained silent for a long moment.

Just when Julian thought she wouldn’t answer, she finally spoke, her voice barely audible. I’d want it to be my mother.”

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“Your mother…” Doesn’t she dislike you? He left the second part unspoken. It was too painful.

“She’s not my real mother,” Louisa continued. “My father told me my real mother loved me deeply–she would have sacrificed everything

for me. But the woman I called ‘Mom‘ for fifteen years never loved me at all. So I’m certain she wasn’t my real mother.”

She drew a shaky breath. “My father never told me anything about my birth mother. I don’t know why she left me. I don’t know what she

looks like. I don’t even know if she’s still alive…”

Her voice grew softer as she fought to control her emotions, but her last words still came out choked.

Logically, she shouldn’t be telling Julian any of this. Even Sadie, Flora, and George knew very little about her childhood. Yet somehow, the

words had flowed naturally from her lips.

After a moment of silence, Julian asked, “Do you want to find her?”

Louisa shook her head. “No.”

If her mother loved her so much yet still abandoned her, there must have been some insurmountable reason.

Besides, they’d been separated for twenty–seven years, and she’d managed all this time on her own. Meeting now might only cause pain for both of them. Better to leave things as they were, each living their own life.

With that thought, she buried her face against his neck like an ostrich–stubborn yet resolute.

Julian said nothing more.

Soon, they emerged from the grove. A brilliant starry sky appeared before them.

Julian stopped. “Louisa, look.”

Hearing his voice, she lifted her head and gazed ahead. Beneath the starry sky lay a sea. Pure moonlight reflected on the water’s surface, creating ripples that sparkled like pearls.

Louisa was awestruck. Looking closer, she realized, “They’re seagulls, Julian! Seagulls!”

“Yes, seagulls,” he confirmed, his face brightening with her contagious excitement.

Louisa felt all her tense nerves instantly relax. She climbed down from his back and ran toward the shore, as if reborn.

Her powerful life force, her incredible resilience–it was as though all her previous sadness had vanished.

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Julian watched her joyful figure from behind, following at a leisurely pace.

When she reached the shore, she called out to the water: “Hey there! How are you? Are you free?”

Like a carefree child.

Startled, several seagulls took flight, circling above her head.

She turned to Julian with delight. “How are there seagulls here? This sea–it can’t be artificial, right?”

“Of course not. This area takes advantage of the natural landscape. The designers cleverly incorporated the surrounding scenery.”

“That’s amazing. So beautiful,” she praised generously.

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The night breeze caressed her face, refreshing and pleasant.

Julian observed her satisfied expression after the initial excitement. “So, Ms. Forbes, I hope accompanying me on this business trip hasn’t been too much of a hardship?”

She smiled awkwardly, trying to please him. “How can you say that? It’s not a hardship at all.” She repeated it several times.

Julian responded with a skeptical grunt.

Now completely relaxed, Louisa leaned against the railing, gazing at the horizon where sky met water. Flocks of seagulls either rested on the water’s surface or circled in the air.

A quote suddenly came to her mind, “Most gulls don’t bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight–how to get from shore to food and back again.”

Julian continued, “Because for most gulls it is not flying that matters, but eating. For Jonathan it was not eating that mattered, but flight.”

Louisa turned to him in surprise. “Mr. Tudor, you’ve read ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull‘?”

“Am I not allowed to?” Julian asked.

“No, it’s not that. I just never imagined your world contained colors beyond the red and green of the stock market.”

Julian’s lips curved into a half–smile. “My world is certainly colorful, unlike you, whose mind seems fixated on just one color.”

Confused, Louisa asked innocently, “What color?”

Julian leaned closer, his warm breath brushing her ear. “The kind… that would earn a movie an R–rating.

Only then did Louisa realize he was teasing her again, mocking her.

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“You’re terrible!” She hit his arm in mock anger, momentarily forgetting the difference in their positions. She smacked his arm with some

force.

He let out a muffled groan.

She immediately stopped. “Did I hit your wound? Why didn’t you dodge?”

“You hit me and then blame me for not dodging? How is that fair?”

Louisa grinned sheepishly. “Um, Mr. Tudor, it’s getting late. Shouldn’t we head over?”

After all, they still had a challenging evening ahead.

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