After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 372

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Louisa’s expression turned cold as she stared directly at Teresa. “Ms. Hughes, I really don’t understand why you insist on mixing business with personal matters. Yes, I’m divorced. But using divorce to measure a womans worth that’s not my tragedy. It’s yours.”

–

Teresa’s face went pale.

As a woman, she couldn’t refute that.

But she didn’t want to concede defeat either.

She laughed coldly at Louisa. “You talk such a good game, but that’s how the world defines things. Or do you think if you said that to the Tudor

family, they’d suddenly approve of you being with Julian?”

Louisa was silent for a second before responding calmly: “I’ve never expected to marry Julian. I have no desire to marry into another wealthy

family. I’ve always been very clear about my position.”

At this, she gave Teresa a penetrating look. “The one who hasn’t figured out their position is you.”

Teresa: “What do you mean by that?”

Louisa didn’t answer, simply turned and left.

Teresa furiously threw things around the conference room.

Because she didn’t understand what Louisa meant.

Was Louisa saying she was just the Tudor family’s adopted daughter, not a real socialite?

Teresa felt utterly humiliated.

Actually, Louisa hadn’t meant that at all.

Walking out of the conference room, all expression drained from Louisa’s face.

She didn’t care about Teresa’s words.

Because Teresa’s words meant nothing. She wasn’t important just a knifen Adeline’s hand, a tool to drive Louisa and Julian apart.

Just like Abigail before her.

.

Abigail, Teresa both were Adeline’s knives.

There could be many such knives, taking turns appearing, one after anoth, warning Louisa again and again that any of them could marry

Julian anyone except Louisa.

–

Louisa understood perfectly.

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That’s why she’d said Teresa didn’t know her place.

But did she truly not care?

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Thinking of Julian, thinking of Adeline, thinking of Teresa, thinking of all those future women, and then thinking of that unbridgeable chasm

between her and Julian…

Louisa’s heart felt like it had been sliced by a sharp blade.

She’d known all along – reality would never be kind to her. The ending was predetermined. There would be no miracles.

Louisa sat in her office with a blank expression for a long time before finally starting to work.

Near noon, Julian called.

Louisa looked at the incoming call. Dozens of seconds passed.

She slowly picked up. “Hello?”

“What do you want for lunch? I’ll have Bob bring it over.”

Julian’s voice came through the phone, casual – but like he was probing, sensing something.

Louisa sighed silently.

Sometimes his perceptiveness really exhausted her.

Like he could detect even the slightest shift in her mood.

Louisa tried to sound relaxed and natural. “You go ahead and eat. I need to go out at lunch.”

Julian: “Work can wait until after you eat. Eat first, then go out.”

Louisa: ‘I’m not skipping lunch. I have a lunch appointment I can’t reschedule. After I’m done, Marlee and I will grab something outside.”

Julian seemed about to say more.

Louisa spoke first. I have to go I’ve got something to handle. You have good lunch.”

–

That last sentence came out soft and sweet, as if nothing had happened.

But the moment she hung up, all expression vanished from her face. Like emotionless machine.

Upstairs.

The CEO’s office.

Julian stared at the disconnected call, frowning.

He called Teddy. ‘Find out who Louisa has lunch plans with.”

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He hung up immediately after.

Teddy felt frustrated. From his boss’s tone, had the boss fought with Louis again?

He called Marlee to inquire about Louisa’s lunch schedule.

Ten minutes later, Teddy shuffled reluctantly into Julian’s office.

Julian gave him a cool look. “One phone call takes this long?”

Teddy complained internally: It’s only been ten minutes – you’re just too impatient.

But he didn’t dare say that out loud.

Teddy forced out a dry laugh. “It did take a bit of time. So, uh, Louisa doesn’t have a client meeting at noon.”

Julian’s expression instantly froze.

Teddy quickly added, “But maybe she has plans with someone important? You’re not going to forbid her from making friends, are you?”

Julian shot him an icy look.

Teddy immediately shut his mouth.

Actually, Julian didn’t want to restrict Louisa’s social freedom. He just sensed Louisa had something on her mind and was avoiding him.

Noon. Lunch time.

Employees carrying lunch boxes streamed toward the company cafeteria.

Louisa sat in her office, looking out through the glass wall.

A full minute passed. She didn’t do anything just looked.

Marlee rarely saw her so preoccupied and couldn’t help worrying. “Ms. Fores, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

Louisa snapped out of it and shook her head. I’m fine. Do you have lunch plans?”

Marlee: ‘No, why?”

Louisa wanted to invite her to lunch.

Earlier, she’d refused Julian because she hadn’t wanted to face him, making up an excuse on the spot.

Now she’d have to actually go out with Marlee.

But before Louisa could speak, her phone rang.

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It was Ryder calling.

Louisa answered. ‘Ryder, what’s up?”

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Hearing her polite, distant tone, Ryder felt a pang of loss.

But he quickly adjusted his mood, saying warmly, “Didn’t you say the other day you wanted to treat me to a meal? Do you have time at noon? I

happen to be near the Tudor Group Building.”

Louisa didn’t respond immediately.

A few days ago, she’d called Ryder, saying she hoped they could still be good friends, tactfully declining the blind date.

At the end, she’d politely mentioned treating him to a meal sometime.

She’d thought he’d understand her meaning.

She hadn’t expected him to actually call to collect on that meal invitation

It irritated her a bit.

But she’d been the one to offer the meal. She couldn’t very well refuse now!

Ryder seemed to sense her thoughts and quickly added, “It’s like this – I recently joined my professor’s research team. You know how it is for us – we lack financial backing. Since you’re in the Tudor Group’s Investment Department, I wanted to consult you about funding. Would that be

convenient?”

A work matter – Louisa couldn’t refuse.

Besides, Ryder had always been like a sunny, refined older brother to her.

If he wasn’t pursuing her romantically, she didn’t mind meeting him.

With that thought, Louisa agreed. ‘I’ll send you a restaurant location. Let’s meet there in fifteen minutes.”

‘Great, you send the address – I’ll treat you.‘

Ryder’s voice carried barely suppressed joy.

Comments

5 Comments

R Visitor

what the heck! Julian will react again, filing words of scene between the line. Somehow they should have a better communication of things. No point of dragging misconceptions or misunderstanding.

4 days ago

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