After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 84

**Clocks Lie To Hearts by Asa River Flint**
**Chapter 84**

Louisa found herself grappling with Julian’s unexpected question, her mind racing for an appropriate response.

How could she possibly take a personal call while sitting right in front of her boss? The very thought sent a shiver down her spine. What if her father decided to delve into private matters? And wouldn’t her answering the phone disrupt Julian’s flow of work? The internal struggle was palpable, a tug-of-war between her professional decorum and her familial obligations.

Julian seemed to sense the turmoil brewing within her. He paused his relentless typing, his fingers hovering over the keyboard, and said with a reassuring tone, “Go ahead and answer. My work isn’t urgent—it won’t bother me at all.”

Louisa hesitated, her gaze flickering back to her phone, which continued to ring insistently. Her father rarely reached out, and the thought of not answering gnawed at her conscience. If she ignored the call, he would undoubtedly worry, and the last thing she wanted was to add to his stress.

With a hint of trepidation, she turned to Julian and asked, “Mr. Tudor, would you mind keeping quiet while I take this call?”

She felt a rush of anxiety at the idea of her father knowing she was in the company of her male boss at such a late hour.

Julian raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “Aren’t you being a bit presumptuous? Am I something to be hidden away?”

Louisa was momentarily at a loss for words, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “Never mind then,” she mumbled, the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Julian closed his laptop with a decisive snap. Louisa blinked in surprise—was he genuinely going to honor her request?

Seizing the opportunity, she quickly answered the call.

Her father’s face materialized on the screen, aged yet dignified, a familiar sight that brought a sense of comfort.

“Dad!” Louisa exclaimed, her voice sweet and warm, a stark contrast to the tension that had just enveloped her.

Julian, catching the softness in her tone, instinctively glanced her way, intrigued by the sudden shift in her demeanor.

Engrossed in her conversation, Louisa remained oblivious to Julian’s gaze.

Brian’s expression softened, but a hint of concern crept into his voice. “Sweetheart, why is it so dark? Aren’t you home?”

Louisa felt a pang of guilt wash over her. “No, I’m in a car,” she replied, her brow furrowing slightly. “Dad, why the sudden call? Is everything alright back home?”

As if the weight of the world had settled on his shoulders, Brian’s face darkened, the concern evident in his eyes. “I saw the video about your divorce from George. How could that bastard do something like that to you? Where is he now?”

He appeared ready to confront the world, a protective father on the verge of a fight.

Louisa’s heart swelled with warmth; she couldn’t help but smile at her father’s fierce love. “Let’s not dwell on him, Dad. We divorced amicably. When love fades, it’s better to part ways. It’s nothing to worry about.”

She hoped to soothe his worries, wishing to shield him from the pain of her past.

But Brian wasn’t easily calmed. “That scoundrel! When he married you, he promised me he’d take care of you for life, make you happy. And now, after such a short time, he’s changed his heart. He—”

Julian chuckled softly. “I didn’t even say a single word, and you already think I’m upset?”

Meanwhile, Brian sat in silence, the weight of his daughter’s recent experiences heavy on his heart.

After the call ended, he sighed deeply, reflecting on the turbulent journey Louisa had faced.

He had never fully supported her relationship with George. Even though ten years ago, George had been a charming, dashing young man who had adored Louisa, the Capulet family’s demands—a secret marriage and a prenuptial agreement—had felt like an insult to him as a father.

If they had subjected his daughter to such indignities before marriage, what horrors awaited her afterward? Would things only worsen?

Brian had feared this outcome back then, and now, just seven years later, his worst fears had materialized.

His heart ached for Louisa, but he felt utterly helpless, letting out another heavy sigh.

Louisa’s mother, Riley Wood, observed this and sneered, “Always ‘sweetheart’—aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”

At her words, Brian’s anger simmered just beneath the surface. “Riley, don’t stir trouble with your nonsense. Louisa is my daughter—why should I feel ashamed?”

She retorted with disdain, her words dripping with contempt. “Daughter, daughter—you’ve repeated it so many times you’ve forgotten she’s not your biological child! She belongs to the Getty family. You were merely a bodyguard. How dare you call yourself her father?”