After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 26

**Clocks Lie To Hearts by Asa River Flint – Chapter 26**

George took a moment to gather his thoughts, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him. After a brief pause, he finally nodded, his expression resolute. “If you insist on this course of action, then all I can offer is my sincere regret.”

The idea of betraying Louisa was simply unacceptable to him; he would rather face the consequences than see her handed over to them like a mere object.

Caden and Vivian exchanged glances, both utterly taken aback by George’s response.

Caden’s disbelief was palpable as he stared at George, incredulous. “She’s just a secretary! How can you care about her so much?”

For a fleeting moment, George was silent, but when he spoke, his voice was steady and unwavering. “She is not just a secretary; she is my woman, and I won’t allow anyone to harm her!”

The intensity of George’s words caught Caden off guard, rendering him momentarily speechless.

Vivian, however, was seething with anger. She couldn’t comprehend how George, who had clearly moved on from that old woman, could still harbor such strong feelings. In that instant, she felt an overwhelming urge to tear Louisa apart, to unleash her fury.

Yet, amidst her rage, she was also aware of the precarious balance she had to maintain. She didn’t want George to resent her because of Louisa. After a brief internal debate, she weighed the pros and cons and made the decision to suppress her anger for the time being.

With a forced smile, she approached George, sitting beside him and wrapping her arms around his. She adopted a playful tone, trying to soften the moment. “Forget about it, George. I was just speaking out of anger. I didn’t truly mean to lash out at her. Let’s just let it go, okay? Don’t be upset with me.”

Caden observed Vivian’s submissive act with growing fury. How could his beloved sister, the esteemed eldest daughter of the Price family, be reduced to competing for George’s attention against a woman without money, power, or status? The thought was infuriating, and he found himself at a loss for words.

Vivian, however, remained oblivious to Caden’s turmoil. Her focus was solely on George as she leaned her head against his shoulder, her lips forming a delicate pout. “But I feel so wronged, George. You have to make it up to me.”

George’s demeanor softened slightly, and he replied gently, “Alright.”

In the end, Vivian seized the opportunity to invite him to accompany her to a charity auction that afternoon, her excitement bubbling over.

—

Louisa, on the other hand, had spent the better part of the day resting at home and was beginning to feel like herself again. Just as she was contemplating preparing a meal, Sadie burst in with lunch in hand.

“See, this is why best friends are invaluable! Without you, I’d be starving in this lonely place,” Louisa joked, a grin spreading across her face.

Sadie’s expression shifted as she remembered the true purpose of her visit. She rummaged through her bag and produced Louisa’s phone, placing it on the table in front of her.

Louisa furrowed her brow, perplexed. “How did my phone end up with you?”

“You left it in the car! Not long after you left last night, Teddy reached out to me. He mentioned that your car had sustained quite a bit of damage and would require several days for repairs. He was worried you might need your phone, so he asked me to bring it to you. It was late, so I didn’t rush over immediately,” Sadie explained, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “By the way, Teddy is Julian’s special assistant. Everything he does is on Julian’s orders. So, spill the beans. How far have you and Julian gotten?”

Louisa, who had been about to take a bite of her food, suddenly choked on a piece of beef at Sadie’s words. After several coughs, she finally managed to swallow and replied, “I accidentally rear-ended his car. As my future boss, he probably just felt responsible for me.”

“Tudor Group has thousands of employees, and he only feels bad for you?” Sadie raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Maybe he’s just a genuinely kind person?”

“But I’ve heard he keeps everyone at arm’s length. There have been zero scandals associated with him since birth,” Louisa countered.

“And what does that prove?” Sadie challenged.

She glanced at the clock and realized ten minutes had already slipped by. Without sending another message, she headed upstairs to change, washing her face and applying a light touch of makeup.

As the time drew near, she suddenly remembered she hadn’t informed him that she was no longer at Cozy Community.

Just as she was about to send him a message, her phone pinged with a new notification: *I’m at the door. Come out.*

Louisa’s eyes widened in surprise. Did he know she had moved?

As she stepped outside, she was greeted by the sight of Julian’s car parked just outside her new home.

She felt a rush of astonishment. Sliding into the car, she casually remarked, “I didn’t even tell you I moved last night. How did you know? You must be a mind reader.”

Julian chuckled, his voice warm and inviting.

Teddy, seated in the front passenger seat, joined in the laughter. “Ms. Forbes, our Mr. Tudor is indeed a mind reader.”

Louisa felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, a shy smile creeping onto her face.

—

The car glided toward a convention center, and as they arrived, Louisa’s curiosity piqued.

Upon entering, she realized it was an auction, and her surprise was evident. “What are we doing here?” she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.