After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 68

**Clocks Lie To Hearts by Asa River Flint**
**Chapter 68**

As Leroy handed over the medical supplies, a sense of unease settled over him. The atmosphere in the room felt charged, yet Louisa, to everyone’s astonishment, remained completely still and compliant as Julian meticulously tended to her wounds. She offered no resistance, no protest, merely surrendered to the moment.

Leroy stood awkwardly to the side, feeling increasingly irrelevant. *Had he come all this way for nothing?* He felt like a mere prop in their unfolding drama, a spectator to a scene that didn’t involve him. A wry smile crept across his face as he glanced at Julian, who was focused entirely on Louisa. “Next time something like this happens, Mr. Tudor, you can skip calling me,” he quipped, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Julian, still absorbed in his task, didn’t even bother to look up. “Then why are you still here?” he replied, his voice steady and unyielding.

“Right. I was just leaving,” Leroy declared, slinging his medical kit over his shoulder with an exaggerated flourish. He strolled toward the door, humming a tune under his breath, “I should be under the car, not inside it…” His voice trailed off, a hint of humor in the air.

Sadie, unable to contain herself, leaned toward Flora and whispered, “He’s kind of fun.” Her laughter was light, a brief escape from the tension that hung in the room.

Flora, with a teasing smile, replied, “That’s the second son of the Carter family. Want an introduction?” Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“No thanks!” Sadie exclaimed, crossing her arms in a firm X-shape, signaling a decisive end to that conversation. The world of the wealthy elite was the last thing she wanted to engage with.

Flora raised an eyebrow, a knowing look passing between them. “I’ve always wondered if you have something against rich people?” she inquired, her tone light but probing.

“And I’ve always wondered if there’s anyone in Silverlight City you don’t know?” Sadie shot back, deftly sidestepping Flora’s question. The conversation shifted like a well-played game of chess.

Flora noticed the deflection, a soft snort escaping her lips as she decided to let the topic go.

Meanwhile, Julian turned his attention back to the two women, intending to ask them to stay with Louisa for the night. However, Flora and Sadie, ever perceptive, didn’t wait for him to finish his thought.

“Mr. Tudor, since Louisa is rejecting everyone else, we’ll leave her in your capable hands tonight. We have somewhere to be. Gotta run,” they declared in unison before darting away like startled rabbits, leaving Julian bewildered.

What could they possibly have to do at such a late hour? Julian didn’t bother calling after them; instead, he turned his gaze back to Louisa, whose pale, sleeping face stirred a mixture of concern and tenderness within him. *Were they at a point in their relationship where sharing space was appropriate?* He pondered, glancing at Teddy and Bob, who still lingered in the room.

After a moment of contemplation, he decided to dismiss Teddy and Bob for the night. The thought of three men and one woman in the same space felt inherently wrong, and he wanted to ensure Louisa felt safe and secure.

**10:00 Wed, Dec 17 M…**

He gently lifted Louisa and carried her to his bedroom, placing her delicately onto the bed. She instinctively curled up, her hand reaching out in search of something familiar. Julian had intended to maintain his distance, but as he observed her restless movements, a sense of urgency compelled him to steady her wandering hand.

At his touch, she stilled, but soon her other hand began to search again, as if she were on a quest for comfort. “What are you looking for?” he asked, unable to suppress a smile at her endearing vulnerability.

Louisa, lost in the depths of slumber, remained silent. Yet when her fingers finally found his hand, she instinctively shifted closer, nestling her face into his palm as if it were a sanctuary.

The unexpected gesture left Julian momentarily speechless. He sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on her serene face.

The room was enveloped in darkness, but moonlight poured through the expansive windows, casting a soft glow that illuminated her features. In just a month, she had become even more delicate than when he first met her. Her long hair sprawled across the bed, with stray strands framing her face, accentuating her pallor. Even in her sleep, her brows were slightly furrowed, hinting at some lingering sorrow that haunted her dreams.

This vulnerable version of Louisa felt worlds apart from the confident woman he had encountered at the gala that night.

With a gentle touch, Julian reached out, tucking the stray hair behind her ear, and then traced his finger along her brow, almost instinctively trying to smooth away the worries that seemed to burden her.

“What are you doing here?” Louisa exclaimed, startled by Flora’s bright smile.

“If not me, then who? Mr. Tudor?” Flora replied with a suggestive wink, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Louisa felt a wave of confusion wash over her. *What did Julian have to do with any of this?* She sat up in bed, rubbing her still-heavy head as memories of the previous night began to trickle back. “What happened to me?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

“What do you mean ‘what happened’? Don’t you remember anything from last night?” Flora’s surprise was palpable.

“I don’t remember. Did something happen?” Louisa pressed, her heart racing as she struggled to recall the events leading up to her current state.

All she could remember was sending those three troublemakers to jail at the gala, trudging home through the rain, and running into Julian in the complex. Everything else was a hazy blur.

Flora, eager to fill in the gaps, launched into an explanation. Louisa listened with growing calmness until she heard the part about Flora and Sadie leaving her with Julian.

Her composure faltered, and her lips began to twitch in disbelief. “You and Sadie just ran off?” she asked incredulously.

“No, no—you were rejecting everyone except Mr. Tudor! We had to create an opportunity for you two, right?” Flora quickly clarified, her tone earnest.

As she spoke, Flora nudged Louisa with her elbow, giving her another suggestive look that made Louisa roll her eyes. “We were being good wingwomen, weren’t we?” Flora added, her grin widening.

“Oh yes, thank you so much,” Louisa replied through gritted teeth, a mix of sarcasm and gratitude in her voice. “So what happened after? How did I get back here?”