After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 259

hapter 259

An hour later.

“We’re here,” Becky announced. “The road ahead is too narrow for the car. Let’s find a place to park nearby.”

Noah nodded. “On it!” He pulled into an empty patch of ground.

Everyone climbed out of the car, with Louisa exiting last since she’d been sitting in the middle. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she

noticed three luxury cars parked nearby–the cheapest worth at least half a million dollars. Apparently, this village had some serious

money.

Becky led them deeper into the village. Louisa was still taking in her surroundings when, as they passed a farmhouse, a large dog

suddenly burst out, barking furiously at them.

They all screamed in unison before scattering in different directions. Louisa grabbed Sadie’s hand. Jacob pulled Becky along. Spotting a

tree ahead, Louisa and Sadie lunged for it and scrambled up the trunk. Jacob and Becky ducked down near the riverbank.

The dog, meanwhile, had charged right up to Noah, panting with its tongue hanging out as it stared him down.

Louisa’s heart raced. “Noah, what are you doing just standing there? Run!”

“Don’t worry,” Noah called back calmly. “It won’t bite me.”

Louisa thought: Just because you say it won’t bite doesn’t mean it won’t. Is this your dog or something?

Noah looked down, meeting the dog’s eyes. “Sit!”

The dog barked loudly.

Noah bent down and patted its head. “Bark again and I’ll turn you into stew.”

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The dog gave him a wounded look. Within seconds, its aggression melted away, and it oddly settled down at his feet. Only then did Noah “affectionately” rub its head. “That’s more like it.”

The tree–huggers and river–hiders watched in silence. How did this dog listen to him so well?

Just then, three people emerged from the farmhouse. Louisa glanced over briefly. What she saw made her do a double–take. The tall, striking figure walking in front–was that Julian? Had the dog scared her into hallucinating?

Julian looked up at Louisa clinging desperately to the tree and sighed wearily. He walked up behind Noah and tapped him on the head.

“Who’s that?” Noah spun around, fist raised and ready to strike. When he saw who it was, his punch froze mid–air. “Mr. Tudor?”

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Julian frowned. “Weren’t you supposed to be protecting them? How did they end up in a tree?”

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Noah looked innocent. “I didn’t have time! This dog came out of nowhere and scared everyone. I turned around for one second, and they were already up in the tree. They wouldn’t come down no matter what I said.”

Julian ignored him and looked up at Louisa. She met his gaze and caught the amusement in his eyes. She banged her head against the tree in frustration.

Julian had someone take the dog back inside, then walked to the tree where Louisa was perched. “If you don’t come down soon, you’ll bend the tree.”

“The tree was already bent,” Louisa protested.

“So, are you coming down or not?” he asked.

Louisa made a miserable face. “I want to, but my legs have different ideas.” The truth was, she had no memory of climbing up there in the first place.

Julian couldn’t help but laugh.

“Could you maybe save the laughter for later?” Louisa pleaded. She still had no idea how to get down.

Julian stretched out his arms. “Jump. I’ll catch you.”

“Will you drop me?”

“Possibly,” he admitted. After all, a falling person carries momentum.

Louisa felt even more desperate. Couldn’t he offer even a little reassurance? She looked at the tree in despair. She couldn’t stay up here

forever. She had to try.

She looked back at Julian. “You’d better catch me…”

Julian gave her a resigned look.

Louisa steeled herself. Whatever happens, happens. She closed her eyes and jumped…

She’d prepared herself to be injured in the fall. Instead, she landed in warm, strong arms. Julian hadn’t even stepped back–he’d caught her solidly. Louisa, still dazed, clung to his neck.

Julian didn’t let go either. Holding her close, he whispered in her ear, “Quite impressive–a tree–climbing expert.”

“Please stop,” Louisa groaned.

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“Such a remarkable skill should go on your resume,” he teased, laughing again.

Louisa felt mortified and buried her face against his neck.

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Sadie, still stuck in the tree, watched the pair below with exasperation. “Look, could you two save the cuddling for later? I’m still up here.

Mr. Tudor, would you mind catching me too?”

Julian didn’t even glance her way. “It’s not that high. Just jump down yourself.”

Sadie felt utterly betrayed. Did Julian have to be so cold? Was Louisa his precious treasure while everyone else was just dirt to him?

Noah positioned himself beneath the tree. “Go ahead and jump. I’ll catch you.”

Meanwhile, Jacob and Becky were pulled up from the riverbank by Teddy. The group followed Julian into the farmhouse. By now, the dog

had been locked in its cage. Earlier, it had been roaming freely in the backyard unsupervised and had simply wandered out.

Louisa splashed some water on her face in the farmhouse courtyard. Sadie stood with Julian on the other side.

The farm owner approached them with a tray. “Julian, please have some fruit. We just picked them–homegrown and fresh.”

“Thank you,” Julian said, taking a bunch of grapes.

Sadie grabbed an apple and bit into it.

Julian, pretending to know nothing, asked her, “What brings you here?”

Sadie answered between bites, “Just a day trip. What about you? This place doesn’t seem to match your usual style.”

“Visiting a friend,” he replied simply.

“What a coincidence that we ran into each other,” Sadie remarked. They both maintained the charade of this obviously staged encounter.

Noah was teasing the dog through its cage, trying to make Jacob pet it, nearly bringing Jacob to tears.

Becky tugged at Sadie’s sleeve and whispered, “Shouldn’t we head to my grandmother’s house now?”

Sadie nodded. “Sure thing.”

Louisa naturally planned to join them and was wondering if she should say something to Julian first.

Before she could decide, Julian called out to her, “Come here.”