After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 80

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

**Chapter 80**

Were they really on the verge of sharing a kiss?

Louisa’s hand flew to her mouth in shock, nearly causing her to choke on the bite of her sandwich. It was her very first day at the office, and here she was, unwittingly thrust into the middle of a scandalous moment.

Her immediate instinct screamed at her: Run! Get out of here before they notice you!

Yet, the scene unfolding before her was utterly mesmerizing—two stunning individuals, radiating a charisma that could easily rival any silver screen star.

In a moment of weakness, she found herself reaching for her phone. Just one photo, she reasoned, wouldn’t hurt. It would be a little keepsake to admire later, wouldn’t it?

With a quick flick of her finger, she captured two rapid shots.

But Julian, ever the observant one, felt a shift in the air and turned his head in her direction. Panic surged through Louisa as she ducked back, pressing herself against the latticed window, her heart racing like a drum in her chest. That was too close for comfort.

However, Julian was not easily misled. Just as he began to investigate the disturbance, Teresa tightened her grip around his neck, her voice a desperate whisper. “Julian, you can’t do this to me. I know you still have feelings for me. You do, don’t you?”

“Let go of me!” Julian’s expression hardened, his frustration boiling over as he forcefully pried her arms from around him and pushed her away. Right before her eyes, he pulled out his phone and swiftly deleted her WhatsApp contact and phone number.

Teresa’s face paled, her pleading gaze turning to one of disbelief. “Julian, you… you deleted my contact? Are you really cutting me off completely?”

His voice grew colder, each word like ice slicing through the air. “Teresa, I don’t know what delusion you’re living in. You tricked me into coming here today, and I won’t allow it to happen again. That’s why I deleted you.”

He continued with a chilling finality, “Rest assured, considering the relationship between the Tudor and Hughes families, we’ll uphold our promise to look after you. You’ll remain a Tudor family lady, the adopted little daughter—nothing more.”

Teresa, however, was not listening. “You know I don’t care about being a Tudor family lady! All I care about is you, Julian. You used to love me so much—how could you change your heart so easily? I know you gave me up because of Jeffrey, but is it my fault he likes me? You handed me over to him without even asking what I wanted!”

Tears streamed down her cheeks, glistening like diamonds in the harsh office light.

Julian sighed heavily at the sight. “Whatever’s between you and Jeffrey isn’t my concern. But if you keep making a scene in front of me, I’m sorry, but I’ll have to ask you to leave the Tudor Group—and the Tudor family.”

His ruthless words hung in the air, stunning Teresa into silence. She knew he wasn’t bluffing; he meant every word he said.

Through her tear-blurred vision, she gazed at his cold, unyielding face and finally nodded, her voice trembling. “Fine. I’ll do as you wish. I’m leaving! I’m leaving!”

With one last furious glance, she turned on her heel and stormed away. Julian didn’t move right away; he stood there, watching her retreating figure, shaking his head with a heavy sigh.

Meanwhile, Louisa was grappling with the unexpected whirlwind of emotions she had just witnessed. Though she hadn’t caught every word, it was clear she had stumbled onto something incredibly personal. It felt rude to linger, but she found herself frozen in place, unable to walk away.

Just as she was about to slip out of the scene, a deep, commanding voice echoed from around the corner, “Come out!”

Julian seemed unsatisfied with her response, his cold stare boring into her for a long fifteen seconds before he said, “You don’t believe me?”

“Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?”

“I don’t like kissing, especially not with women.” His tone grew icier, sending a shiver down her spine.

Louisa was taken aback by his declaration. Did she hear him correctly? He didn’t like women? So he preferred men? Yet here he was, still entangled with Teresa?

Men were such hypocrites, always wanting it all. What a jerk. And she had thought he was one of the good ones.

Julian frowned at her expression, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. “What are you thinking now? I’m correcting you because you’re wrong. There was no kissing. As a Tudor Group employee, you can’t have such misconceptions.”

Though Louisa seethed at his duplicitous behavior, she knew he was still her superior. She nodded reluctantly, suppressing her frustration. “I understand.”

“Your phone.” He extended his hand, a command rather than a request.

Confused but compliant, Louisa handed it over. He opened her gallery, quickly locating the two photos she had taken, and moved to delete them without hesitation.

Without thinking, Louisa protested, “Could you not delete those?”

Julian looked up from the phone, his gaze as cold as ice. “Why would you want to keep them?”