After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 38

**Clocks Lie To Hearts by Asa River Flint**
**Chapter 38**

Her voice trembled slightly, a whisper of uncertainty hanging in the air as she spoke. Deep down, Louisa recognized the audacity of her request, knowing all too well that if she were still in the corporate world, she would have dismissed anyone who approached a situation like this as utterly unreliable.

The line fell into an uncomfortable silence, stretching for several seconds, each tick of the clock echoing the tension that filled the space between them.

Julian didn’t respond to her inquiry, instead, he broke the quiet with a series of numbers that rolled off his tongue with practiced ease. “Did you catch that?” he asked, his tone almost teasing.

“Yes, I did,” she replied, her mind racing to keep pace with him.

“Repeat it back to me,” he instructed, his voice firm yet not unkind.

With surprising clarity, she recited the digits, her tone unusually meek, as if she were a student reciting answers to a teacher. “That sounds like a phone number. Do you have instructions for me?” she ventured, her heart pounding in her chest.

“It’s my personal number,” Julian clarified, his voice steady. “Remember this: important matters require a phone call. Text messages don’t count.”

The implication hung heavily in the air—was he suggesting that he would simply disregard her resignation message, as if it had never been sent?

Suddenly, Louisa felt a flicker of hope ignite within her. “Yes, Mr. Tudor,” she said, her voice brightening with a hint of understanding.

From the other end of the line, a low, rumbling chuckle resonated, rich and magnetic, carrying an unexpected warmth that wrapped around her like a comforting blanket.

Was she imagining it?

She quickly dismissed the thought, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that her spirits had lifted. The heavy weight that had settled on her chest for weeks felt lighter, almost as if it were dissipating into thin air.

The following morning, when George walked through the door, she greeted him with a surprising semblance of civility, a stark contrast to their previous exchanges.

George paused, taken aback by her unexpected demeanor. Had her anger truly vanished overnight?

He had always known that her irritation was merely a fleeting response to Vivian’s presence. She would get over it; she always did.

With a casual air, he placed a plate of breakfast on the table. “Darling, I brought your favorite smoked meat sandwiches,” he announced, a hint of pride in his voice.

Louisa remained silent, her thoughts swirling in a tempest of emotions.

Moments later, Jared arrived, carrying a stack of home décor magazines that seemed to promise a fresh start.

“Here, take a look and tell me which style you prefer,” George said, handing them to her. “I’ll have your room completely renovated… Of course, you could always move back to the master bedroom with me—”

“Don’t bother,” Louisa interjected coolly, cutting him off before he could finish. “Do whatever you want.”

The truth was, she had no intention of returning to that house, not now, not ever.

Only ten days remained until the finality of their marriage would be upon them.

She had resolved to stay in the hospital until then, finding solace in the sterile environment, where she could finally gather her strength to tell him to leave her life for good—permanently.

George, oblivious to the storm brewing within her, frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. “You’re still upset?”

Louisa chose not to answer, her silence speaking volumes.

“We’ve finalized our second phase cooperation with the Price Group,” he continued, his voice filled with a hopeful tone. “Once everything stabilizes, I’ll take you on a vacation…”

Louisa couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. Did he honestly believe she would just pretend that nothing had happened and continue this charade of a marriage?

Frustrated by her continued silence, George’s patience began to fray.

Yet, he maintained his composure, reaching for her hand, his touch both familiar and unwelcome.

Louisa tried to pull away, but his grip was firm, and she lacked the strength to break free.

Mistaking her resistance for mere reluctance, he grew bolder, lifting her hand to his lips for a soft kiss.

At that moment, his phone chimed, interrupting the tension.

It was a message from Vivian: [George, what’s keeping you so busy? I haven’t seen you in 24 hours, and you haven’t called. Aren’t you curious what I’ve been up to?] Accompanied by a playful emoji that seemed to mock him.

Too annoyed to engage fully, he replied tersely: [What have you been up to?]

Vivian: [Thinking of you! Missing you at meals, while falling asleep, during my shows—my mind is filled with thoughts of you. Have you been thinking of me too?]

She certainly knew how to entice a man, didn’t she?

George felt his mood lighten momentarily, but before he could respond, another message pinged: [All I want is to see you. George, where are you? Let me come to you, please?]

George hesitated, torn between duty and desire. [Not now.]

Vivian: [Why wait? I miss you! I want to hold you, kiss you, love you…]

George: [Enough. Stop talking like that.]

Vivian fell silent, sending only a sad-faced emoji that seemed to linger in the air like an unfulfilled promise.

George had intended to reconcile with Louisa, but as he glanced at her rigid back, still turned away and refusing to engage, his patience finally unraveled.

He pocketed his phone, standing up abruptly. “Something’s come up at the office. I need to go. Rest well, and call if you need anything.”

Louisa acknowledged him with a noncommittal sound, her heart racing with relief.

Peace at last.

As he left, George, unsettled by her indifference, added, “I’ll come back tonight with dinner.”

“Don’t trouble yourself,” she replied, her voice flat. “Focus on your work.”