After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 48

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

**Chapter 48**

At the moment Vivian spoke, George felt an immediate shift within him, as if the very essence of his passion had been siphoned away.

The warmth in his desire-clouded eyes vanished, replaced by a chilling clarity as he looked down at her, his heart sinking. “Didn’t we agree to steer clear of the marriage talk?” he asked, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of frustration.

With that, he distanced himself from her, creating a palpable space between them that felt like a chasm.

Vivian’s gaze bore into him, her eyes shimmering with hurt and confusion. “Why not? George, we can’t avoid it forever. At some point, we’ll have to get married. Why are you so adamant against it?”

“There is no reason to discuss. When I say no marriage, I mean exactly that—no marriage,” he replied, his tone unyielding.

He meticulously adjusted his clothes, his movements deliberate as if he were reassembling his very being after the intimacy they had just shared. It was as though he was trying to convince himself that nothing had transpired between them.

Vivian, however, was left reeling, unable to comprehend how he could transition from a state of fiery passion to a frigid detachment in the blink of an eye.

He was willing to engage in every facet of their relationship—every thrill, every secret—except for the one that truly mattered: marriage.

“It’s because of Louisa, isn’t it?” she accused, her voice rising in pitch, tinged with anger and betrayal. “You don’t want to marry me because of her!”

George’s brow furrowed at her words, but before he could formulate a response, his phone buzzed insistently in his pocket.

It was Jared.

“What is it?” George answered, his voice clipped.

“Mr. Capulet, we have a serious issue. Eagle Crest Bank has put a freeze on the loan for our joint project with the Price Group. They’re demanding a reassessment,” Jared explained, his tone grave.

“On what grounds?” George’s voice turned icy, the tension in the air thickening.

“They claim it’s a direct order from the president of the Tudor Group. Apparently, the recent controversies surrounding our companies could jeopardize the project and create repayment risks. They want to reevaluate everything,” Jared elaborated.

George’s expression darkened, morphing into something almost menacing.

Without uttering another word, he snatched his jacket and car keys, striding purposefully toward the office. Despite Vivian calling after him, pleading for him to stop, he didn’t glance back even once.

Once inside his car, he was about to dial Caden when he saw Caden’s name flashing on his screen.

Twenty minutes later, they convened at the Capulet Group headquarters, tension thick in the air.

In the presidential office, George and Caden faced each other across the polished mahogany desk, the weight of the situation pressing down on them.

“We had everything set up for this loan,” Caden said, his voice low and grim. “Percy Adams, the VP of the Tudor Group, personally assured us there wouldn’t be any problems. Why this sudden change of heart? What game is Julian playing here?”

George remained silent for a moment, the image of Louisa flashing through his mind.

Her frequent interactions with Julian, coupled with Julian’s unexpected strike against him and the Price Group—was this all somehow connected to Louisa?

Noticing George’s silence, Caden’s agitation grew. “Mr. Capulet, we’re in this together now. If this project hits a snag, both our companies will face catastrophic losses. What’s going through your mind?”

George maintained his silence, his face a mask of ice, betraying nothing of the turmoil within.

As Caden’s frustration reached its peak, George finally broke his silence. “I’m contemplating whether Julian’s interference stems from a business standpoint or something more personal.”

“Business or personal?” Caden asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. “We haven’t crossed any professional lines. Our project is a guaranteed profit—he’s a businessman; he wouldn’t sabotage it without a solid reason. Did you offend him on a personal level?”

And, more importantly, he wouldn’t divorce Louisa—though he kept that sentiment buried deep within.

Without allowing Caden a chance to counter, he grabbed his keys and stormed out of the office.

As he passed his assistant’s office, he called over his shoulder, “Jared, come with me!”

Jared hurriedly followed him, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity.

By the time they reached the elevator, George had regained a semblance of composure.

He turned to Jared, his voice steady but probing. “Has anything else transpired recently?”

Julian wouldn’t have acted without provocation; there had to be more to this situation.

Jared hesitated, then finally spoke. “Yes, actually. Ms. Price’s parents confronted Mrs. Louisa Capulet in her hospital room and berated her. After that, rumors began circulating, labeling Mrs. Capulet an adulteress.”

“The following day, several prominent social media accounts posted videos defending Mrs. Capulet, as did a multitude of users. Public opinion shifted dramatically against Ms. Price.”

“I believe the Price family then approached your mother, which is why yesterday she issued a statement through the Capulet Group’s official account…”

He quickly pulled up the morning’s video statement to show George, who was now fully engaged.

As they stepped into the elevator, George opened the video, his heart racing.

It was lengthy—over twenty minutes of carefully crafted words.

As he watched, his expression grew increasingly grim, the weight of the unfolding drama pressing down on him like a heavy shroud.