After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 34

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

**Chapter 34**

Flora and Sadie instinctively followed Louisa’s gaze, their eyes locking onto Julian, whose intense stare was fixed on their hands—hands that had been resting protectively on Louisa’s body, a gesture that now felt dangerously possessive.

Even without uttering a single word, Julian’s icy glare sent a chill coursing through their veins, an unspoken threat that compelled them to withdraw their hands in perfect synchrony. It was as if his look had promised some form of retribution, a warning that those four offending hands might not remain attached to their wrists for much longer.

Surprisingly, Louisa seemed completely unaware of the silent menace radiating from Julian. “Mr. Tudor,” she stated firmly, “my friends are here. You should leave now.”

But Julian brushed aside her dismissal, his attention shifting solely to Flora. His voice was as cool and unyielding as winter rain. “Take care of her.”

“Yes, sir!” Flora responded immediately, her posture snapping straight as if she were a soldier standing at attention, her body practically humming with tension, just shy of offering him a salute.

With a curt nod and one last lingering look at Louisa, Julian turned and exited without another word. Sadie released a breath she hadn’t even realized she had been holding, the tension in the room dissipating slightly with his departure.

As she turned to Louisa, eager to delve into the events of the day, her eyes caught Flora, who remained frozen in her rigid stance. The seriousness etched on her face was palpable as she stared at the empty doorway through which Julian had just vanished. Sadie exchanged a bewildered glance with Louisa, both of them unsure of what to make of Flora’s sudden stillness.

“Hey, Flora, you okay?” Sadie gently tugged at her sleeve, trying to break the spell.

Flora blinked, her wide eyes returning to the present moment, disbelief washing over her features. “Mr. Tudor just… spoke to me,” she whispered, as if the very words were too extraordinary to say aloud.

“But you’ve known him since childhood, right?” Sadie asked, confusion knitting her brow. “Is it really that strange for him to talk to you?”

“You don’t understand,” Flora insisted, her tone filled with genuine awe. “Wallace and I have been trailing behind him like devoted shadows for over twenty years, and he has never spoken a single word to me. Today was the first time.”

“Is he really that standoffish?” Sadie wondered aloud, her curiosity piqued.

Louisa frowned, trying to reconcile Flora’s words with her own experiences. “I wouldn’t think so. Isn’t Julian rather gentle in his own way?”

“How is that hard to believe?” Flora huffed, indignation coloring her cheeks a deep shade of pink.

“He’s never spoken to you? Not once in all those years?” Sadie pressed, her interest growing.

Flora paused, contemplating. “Well, saying he never spoke isn’t entirely accurate. He did say one thing…”

Louisa and Sadie nodded in unison, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. “See? We knew it couldn’t be possible.”

“He said that Wallace and I standing together in our underwear looked like Dora and Diego from *Dora the Explorer*.”

A moment of stunned silence enveloped the room before Louisa and Sadie erupted into fits of laughter, their joyous sounds spilling out and filling the hospital room with warmth.

Outside, in the corridor near the elevator, Julian turned his head at the sound of Louisa’s laughter, the musical notes echoing from her room.

Teddy, standing nearby, shook his head in disbelief. “Ms. Forbes must have nerves of steel. She nearly dies today and she’s still laughing? I’m shocked she actually set fire to her own home—that’s extreme! Mr. Tudor, are you certain you want someone like her at our Tudor Group?”

Sadie’s face flushed with indignation. “Let’s not even mention his cheating. Just consider your professional contributions—if it weren’t for you risking everything seven years ago, would his precious Capulet Group have risen from bankruptcy to industry dominance in just three years?”

“He witnessed all your sacrifices, and what was your reward? When success finally came, everyone else celebrated with promotions and bonuses while you were demoted to a glorified servant, catering to his every whim.”

“Now you’ve finally broken free, and he won’t even let you seek new work? What the hell does he think you are—his property?”

Louisa’s lips curled into a bitter smile, a mix of resignation and defiance. “That’s just how the world works. A good horse is sold after plowing; a loyal dog is cooked after hunting—history has always shown us this outcome.”

“But you’re not just an employee—you’re his wife!” Sadie protested, her voice trembling with indignation.

“Not for much longer,” Louisa replied, her voice smooth yet steely, a quiet resolve underpinning her words.

This was precisely why she had wanted to avoid creating a scene. She had seen through George completely now and harbored no illusions about the man she had married. In just over ten days, their contract would come to an end.

She only needed to endure a little while longer before claiming her freedom.

Sadie nodded, determination hardening her features. “You’re right. In less than two weeks, we’ll be celebrating your liberation. Then we’ll tell him to get lost—permanently!”

But Flora couldn’t contain her fury any longer. With an exasperated growl, she kicked over a chair and stormed toward the door, her entire body vibrating with rage.

“Where are you going?” Louisa called after her, alarm flashing in her eyes.