After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 46

**Clocks Lie To Hearts by Asa River Flint**
**Chapter 46**

Louisa picked up her phone, her mind brushing the call off as just another work-related matter.

“Wait!” Flora interjected, her tone urgent. “Before you answer, think carefully about what you’re going to say.”

Sadie chimed in, her voice laced with excitement, “Exactly! If Mr. Tudor is calling now, he must have some crucial information. There’s a solid ninety percent chance he’ll be able to help you—this is our chance. You need to use the sympathy card to your advantage.”

Louisa rolled her eyes, exasperation bubbling to the surface. “You two are seriously overthinking this.”

It was true, the Tudor Group held an iron grip over the business scene in Silverlight City. Even the seven major families dared not cross the Tudor family.

Yet, Louisa felt the weight of her own limitations. One person could only endure so many battles. If the Capulet Group and the Price Group decided to unite out of sheer desperation, even Julian might find himself struggling to fend them off.

The last thing she wanted was to drag him into more trouble.

Disregarding Flora and Sadie’s pointed suggestions, she answered the call with a firm, “Mr. Tudor.”

A cool, composed acknowledgment floated through the line, sending a shiver down her spine.

Louisa opened her mouth to inquire about the purpose of his call, but the ambient sounds of an airport filled her ears, causing her instinct to kick in. “You’re coming back from a business trip?”

“Yes,” Julian replied, his voice steady. “I returned only to discover that you’ve been making headlines. It seems you’ve been quite busy during your time off, Ms. Forbes.”

Louisa found herself momentarily speechless, her heart racing.

She couldn’t fathom that Julian, with his endless list of responsibilities, would call just to tease her. No, he must be worried that her recent controversy could cast a shadow over the Tudor Group’s reputation, especially now that she was part of the team.

“I’ll handle it,” she assured him quickly, a hint of determination in her voice. “It won’t cause any trouble for you, Mr. Tudor.”

Julian’s next question caught her off guard. “How do you plan to handle it?”

Louisa hesitated, surprised that he wanted to delve deeper into the matter. She scrambled to gather her thoughts, but the truth was, she hadn’t crafted a plan just yet.

Finally, she confessed, “I haven’t figured out how to tackle it yet. For now, I suppose I’ll just have to bide my time and swallow my pride.”

The reality was stark; she had no other viable options. She didn’t want to storm over and fall into Hazel’s trap, yet remaining silent while they bullied her was equally unbearable.

The only solution she could see was to wait. Thankfully, the divorce cooling-off period would conclude in just a few days. After that, she could finally strike back.

A brief silence lingered on the line, and Louisa sensed Julian’s concern for the Tudor Group’s standing. She was about to offer him reassurance again—even if it meant stepping away from the job at his company. She wasn’t afraid of finding work elsewhere; she had always been resourceful.

But before she could voice her thoughts, Julian stated, “I understand.”

His tone remained flat, devoid of any emotion.

Meanwhile, on his way home from the airport, Julian hung up with a faint smile playing on his lips, though his eyes remained cold as he instructed Teddy, “Freeze the project loans for the Capulet Group and Price Group.”

Teddy nearly slammed on the brakes, shock evident on his face. “Sir, their projects are already in production, and the loan process has been finalized. Halting it now would disrupt their cash flow and doom the projects.”

“Is that your only concern?” Julian replied, his smile slight but his tone edged with an unusual menace. “This is George and Vivian’s love-child project—the marriage venture between their groups. They’ll find the funds even if it means selling everything they own.”

Teddy fell silent, the weight of Julian’s words settling in. Julian had always kept his business and personal lives separate, yet here he was, blurring the lines for Louisa.

Carefully choosing his words, Teddy ventured, “Mr. Tudor, perhaps you should reconsider? Several board members are scrutinizing your every move. The loans went through proper channels. Stopping them abruptly will give those old foxes ammunition against you.”

Julian’s only response was a cold glare.

Catching the look in the rearview mirror, Teddy felt a shiver run down his spine. He had clearly overstepped. Julian had made up his mind.

Oh well. The Tudor Group’s most brilliant heir could afford to be a bit willful from time to time. Manipulating those companies was akin to playing with needy pets—he could choose to feed them or not, as he pleased.

After parking, Teddy immediately issued a directive to reevaluate both groups’ projects.

The rationale? Recent public controversies surrounding the project companies could potentially disrupt operations and create risks for loan repayment.

Whether the second review would pass depended entirely on Julian’s mood.