After the Affair: Falling into a Billionaire's Arms Chapter 30

"She won't accept anything I give her. How do I fix this?" George grumbled.

"Well, Mr. Capulet, all the gifts you give Mrs. Capulet are the leftovers Ms. Price didn't want. Of course, she won't accept them," Jared muttered under his breath.

George shot him a cold look. "What did you say?"

Jared sighed, feeling a bit helpless. He had seen everything and felt bad for Louisa. "Mr. Capulet, you really don't understand women, especially Mrs. Capulet. She's incredibly capable and can get anything she wants on her own. What she wants from you is a gesture of thoughtfulness. Lately, you've been giving her the gifts Ms. Price rejected. Naturally, she's upset."

"Is that so?" George pondered for a moment. "Order me another set of..."

Outside the door, Vivian was eavesdropping, fuming. So, George's bad mood these past few days was because of that wretched woman, Louisa. Hadn't he stopped liking her? Why was he still trying to win her over?

No way. She couldn't let them reconcile. She had to come up with a plan.

...

Meanwhile, over the past two days, Louisa had finished copying the entire Business Philosophy by hand and had arranged to meet Julian for dinner. 

She put the book in her bag and glanced at the calendar on her nightstand before leaving. This month had felt like an eternity, but thankfully, only 13 days remained.

As she stepped out, George happened to be coming in. He was carrying a fancy shopping bag and they nearly bumped into each other.

"Heading out?" he asked instinctively.

"Yes," she replied without even looking at him.

George felt a pang of discomfort. He didn't want to keep fighting with her. As she walked past him, he grabbed her wrist. "We need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," she said, pulling her hand away and heading for the door. She had hoped to get through this last month peacefully, but now she didn't even have the patience to deal with him.

George moved to block her path, but she was ready this time. She dodged his hand, her eyes cold and filled with disdain. "Don't touch me."

Seeing her like this, George felt a surge of frustration. He held out the shopping bag. "I bought you jewelry from your favorite brand. See if you like it."

Louisa glanced at the bag but didn't move. He quickly unwrapped it and opened the box, presenting it to her. She looked at it and laughed.

George was confused and looked down. The set of three was missing the bracelet. He frowned and explained, "I didn't give this to anyone else. I went to a meeting right after I got it and left it in my office. I don't know how the bracelet went missing. Someone must have taken it."

But who would dare enter the president's office at the Capulet Group without permission? The answer was crystal clear.

George started to explain, but Louisa just gave a cold smile and walked out. 

George's face turned ashen with anger. He had wanted to mend things with Louisa, but now it was all ruined again. He called Vivian immediately. "Did you take the bracelet?"

"Yeah!" Vivian admitted without hesitation. She was sitting at her dining table, munching on fries, her legs swinging contentedly. 

If she dared to take it, she dared to admit it. She feigned innocence. "I thought it was a surprise gift for me, so I took it. I wanted to surprise you."

George closed his eyes tightly, not saying a word. Vivian cautiously asked, "George, are you upset? Was the bracelet not for me? I'll bring it back to you then. Where are you?"

"Forget it. Keep it," George said, finally giving up.

...

On the other side of town, Louisa arrived at the seaside restaurant where she had arranged to meet Julian. 

He was already there, sitting at a table by the edge, with the vast ocean behind him. 

The golden sunset painted the sea and the entire restaurant in a warm glow. Julian, with his chiseled profile, seemed to dominate this masterpiece of nature.

A violinist played softly in the background, and the serene scene calmed Louisa's heart. 

She walked over to his table. "Sorry I'm late, Mr. Tudor."

She sat down across from him and immediately reached into her bag for the book, not even pausing to catch her breath.

Julian observed her frantic manner and remarked coolly, "In a rush to get to your next appointment?"

"No, no... that's not it..." His sharp comment made her stammer. The hand that was about to pull out the book retreated back into her bag.

Of course—sitting across from her was the perpetually busy CEO of Tudor Group. He had made time for her appointment, and here she was acting all flustered.

Just then, the servers began bringing out their food.

"Let's eat first," he said.

"Okay," she responded, lowering her head to sip her soup, one spoonful at a time. Her mind remained completely preoccupied with the book situation.

She had planned to address the issue immediately, prepared to accept whatever consequences—whether his fury or a lifetime of debt repayment. Instead, his simple statement had stopped her in her tracks, leaving her thoughts in disarray.

Would he remain this composed if he knew the book he'd purchased for two hundred million had been torn to pieces and haphazardly glued back together? The thought made her glance up cautiously at the man elegantly cutting his steak across the table.

He happened to look up at that exact moment, catching her gaze directly. She had no time to look away.

He chuckled softly. "Don't just drink soup. Eat something."

"Okay," she responded again. But still distracted, she picked up her soup bowl once more and continued sipping.

Julian found himself looking at the top of her bowed head as she focused on her meal—a complete contrast to the efficient, commanding Ms. Forbes he knew from the office. He decided to end her “suffering.”

"Whatever you want to say, go ahead," he said calmly.

Granted this reprieve, Louisa immediately pulled a book and a notebook from her bag, holding them out with both hands. "I'm sorry, Mr. Tudor," she said cautiously. "The book was torn..."