After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 44

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

Louisa couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the bewildered look on Flora’s face. “What kind of question is that?” she asked incredulously, her voice tinged with exasperation. “Everyone has a father. I didn’t just pop into existence out of thin air like some whimsical fairy tale character.”

“But you’ve never mentioned him before!” Flora protested, her voice trailing off as she hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the unspoken assumption that had lingered among their friends—that Louisa’s parents were no longer in the picture.

Louisa sighed, feeling the weight of the topic. “I’ll tell you about it another time,” she said firmly, effectively closing the door on the conversation.

Meanwhile, as Flora had accurately anticipated, the Price family was in an uproar over the negative attention they were receiving online.

In their dimly lit living room, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Except for Vivian, who lay quietly in her room, the rest of the family wore expressions that were as dark as the storm clouds gathering outside.

“Caden, have you managed to uncover who is behind this attack on our family’s reputation?” Lily demanded, her eyes narrowing as she directed her frustration at her son.

Caden shook his head slowly, his brow furrowed in concentration. “No, I haven’t,” he replied, his voice laced with frustration.

“Could it be Louisa?” Owen’s voice was low, almost conspiratorial, as he muttered the name.

Lily reacted immediately, her indignation flaring. “How could it possibly be her? That Louisa has nothing to her name. What would compel her to go against us?”

“Maybe not directly, but perhaps someone is supporting her,” Owen countered, his tone serious. “There’s something unsettling about Louisa. Something dangerous.”

Lily shook her head, dismissing his concerns. In her mind, Louisa was nothing more than a minor annoyance, certainly not the mastermind behind such a scandal.

“Whoever it is doesn’t matter anymore,” Caden interjected, his voice cutting through the tension. “The real question is, how do we resolve this mess?”

They couldn’t afford to let the public continue this gossip. The Price family’s reputation was on the line, and they needed to act swiftly.

Owen paused, deep in thought, before turning his attention to Caden. “Does George know about this? What’s his stance? Is he on our side?”

“People are inherently selfish and primarily concerned with their own image,” Caden replied, his expression serious. “He was furious about the rumors suggesting he was dating two women at once. He intended to confront Louisa, but oddly enough, those whispers faded away quickly. I can’t say what he’s thinking now.”

Owen nodded, his mind racing. “Keep a close watch on George. Whether Louisa is behind this or not, we need to find a way to sow discord between them.”

He then turned to Lily, who had been quietly absorbing the conversation. “Lily, go find Hazel.”

Lily nodded, a look of determination crossing her face. “I understand, but what exactly should I say to her?”

Owen leaned forward, his voice low and serious. “No matter what we do, it’ll only be our word against theirs. That won’t stop the public backlash,” he explained, his tone urgent. “We need Hazel to take a stand. If she acknowledges Vivian’s position, we can turn this situation around. You need to persuade Hazel to speak up.”

“I understand,” Lily affirmed, her resolve solidifying.

With that, the family dispersed to execute their plans, each member driven by the urgency of the situation.

After ensuring that Vivian was sound asleep, George found himself lost in thought, his mind drifting to Louisa.

With all the chaos surrounding Vivian these past few days, he hadn’t had the chance to check on Louisa. A wave of concern washed over him as he wondered how she was faring.

He recalled the serene composure she had displayed when he left her hospital room, how she had effortlessly stopped Flora and Sadie from causing a scene. She had seemed so collected, as if their connection meant nothing at all.

As if she weren’t his wife.

A pang of regret twisted in his heart. He couldn’t bear to remain distant any longer.

After gently tucking Vivian in, he made his way to Louisa’s hospital room, his heart pounding with anticipation.

George flinched, his gaze dropping as he avoided her eyes. “Her condition should be much better by then.”

It was just a slap, after all. How serious could it be? The truth was that the Price family was in turmoil, and Vivian was clinging to George, unwilling to let him go.

Louisa was aware of all this but chose not to confront him.

His continued presence with Vivian was, in a way, beneficial for her. This way, she could avoid facing him directly.

With a gentle smile, she urged him, “You should head back. I need to leave too.”

Seeing her apparent understanding, George enveloped her in a tight embrace. “I love you.”

Louisa remained silent, her heart heavy.

But when he couldn’t see her face, a cold glimmer flickered in her beautiful eyes, betraying the turmoil within.

Once he had left, Flora returned with the discharge papers in hand.

Together, they gathered Louisa’s belongings and made their way out of the hospital.

Of course, Louisa had deceived George about her plans to stay at Flora’s house. She had no intention of revealing her true address.

In reality, she was headed to her own home—a modest duplex apartment that she could finally call her own.

Flora drove her there, the car humming softly along the road.

As soon as Louisa opened the door to her apartment, before she could even take in her surroundings, a loud noise erupted in her ears, startling her.