After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 60

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

“What do you mean?” Hazel’s voice quivered, a mixture of fear and disbelief coloring her tone.

Louisa’s smile broadened, morphing into something sinister. “You know, I really don’t get it. You pay me to stay silent, and then you have the audacity to hold a press conference branding me a homewrecker. So, tell me, do you want me to spill the truth or not? Make a decision already.”

“W-what truth? I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Panic surged through Hazel as she instinctively shoved Louisa away. But in her haste, she pushed too forcefully and stumbled backward, landing unceremoniously on the ground.

The room fell into a stunned silence, disbelief etched on every face. Eyes darted between Louisa and Hazel, confusion mingling with judgment.

“What kind of person is this Louisa? Taking money isn’t enough—she has to torment the legitimate wife and terrorize the mother-in-law? How shameless can she be?” murmured one onlooker, shaking their head in disgust.

George was the first to react, his protective instincts kicking in. He seized Louisa’s wrist, lifting it as he reprimanded her sharply, “Haven’t you caused enough chaos? Aren’t you at least a little embarrassed?”

“Embarrassed?” Louisa’s smile remained, her gaze fixed on him as if he were an oddity. “That’s rich coming from you. The man who takes a concubine isn’t embarrassed. The woman who eagerly steps into that role isn’t embarrassed. The one spreading lies isn’t embarrassed either.”

“I haven’t done anything wrong—why should I feel embarrassed?” Her voice rang out, clear and unwavering, slicing through the tension in the air. The venue fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of her words hanging heavily.

A curious guest picked up the marriage certificate that had slipped from Hazel’s grasp, holding it aloft. “This marriage certificate is genuine,” they proclaimed, their voice cutting through the stillness.

“It certainly appears real,” another chimed in.

“Of course, you can forge many things, but how could anyone replicate the official seal from the marriage registry or the information logged in the government records?”

“But then why would…”

All eyes turned expectantly toward Hazel, the center of this unfolding drama.

“Hazel is George’s mother. Even if no one else knew, she couldn’t possibly be oblivious to whether this marriage certificate was authentic or not.”

“So why would she claim it was forged?”

*And what about that press conference earlier? She looked so sincere when she defended Vivian and labeled Louisa a homewrecker. Why would she lie so blatantly?*

“Isn’t it obvious? Look at the date on that certificate—it’s from seven years ago. If Louisa and George have been married for seven years without going public, it must be because Ms. Gray looked down on Louisa’s background.”

“Then she likely thought Louisa wasn’t worthy of the Capulet family and tried to buy her off to divorce George.”

“But after making the deal, she didn’t want to pay the full amount, so she held that press conference, fabricating lies about Louisa, hoping she would break the agreement herself.”

“That’s so unjust. If they didn’t approve of her, they could have simply asked her to leave. But why refuse to pay what they promised? It’s not like the Capulet family can’t afford it.”

As these revelations began to piece together the truth, the crowd slowly grasped the reality: this was not just an ex-girlfriend seeking to extort money; this was a legitimate wife confronting a homewrecker and a cruel mother-in-law.

Hazel’s previously untouchable dignity crumbled under the weight of the crowd’s scrutiny.

“Enjoying the show?” a cool voice drifted from behind them.

They jumped, startled, and turned to face Julian, who stood rigid as a statue. They shook their heads in unison. “Not at all.”

Julian lifted his gaze, his expression as blank as ever, yet Teddy and Bob felt an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

Teddy quickly adjusted his response, “Yes, it’s incredibly entertaining!”

Julian said nothing, redirecting his attention to the window, where he spotted that vivid, defiant figure in red. Bright crimson droplets slid down her delicate arm, falling one by one to the ground, each drop heavy with significance.

Was she truly that immune to pain? His calm demeanor gradually darkened with intensity, as if the world around him faded away, leaving only that striking splash of color in his vision.

Finally, he spoke softly, “If it’s entertaining, let’s go watch in person.”

Before Teddy and Bob could fully comprehend his words, Julian rose and strode toward the door. They hurried to follow him.

Teddy whispered, “Could it be that Mr. Tudor is going down there to support her?”

Bob replied, “You can drop the ‘could it be’ part and be more confident.”

Teddy’s eyes widened in alarm. “No way! Mr. Tudor, no matter how dramatic things get, they are still husband and wife. With your dazzling presence, you can’t become the universally despised other man!”