After the Affair: Falling into a Billionaire's Arms Chapter 40

Vivian, feeling as if she'd narrowly escaped death, burst into tears at the sight of him. She pushed past Flora and threw herself into his arms. "George! You're finally here! They were going to kill me! You have to avenge me..."

Her entire body trembled as she burrowed deeper into his embrace.

George patted her back gently, his demeanor radiating a dangerous chill as he surveyed the room. "What did you do to her?"

"No need to be so serious, Mr. Capulet," Flora replied. "What could we possibly do to her? She's the Price family's precious daughter and your little lover. Protected by two powerful families—we wouldn't dare touch her."

"Flora!" George's voice cracked like a whip.

Sadie stepped forward. "What's wrong? Did Flora say something untrue? You hold another woman in your arms right in front of your wife. I should be asking you—what exactly are you doing?"

George's expression darkened further under their verbal assault.

Finally, his gaze settled on Louisa. "Louisa, tell me what happened."

Louisa smiled thinly, gesturing toward Vivian in his arms. "You're questioning us about what we did to her. Why don't you ask what she was doing in my hospital room in the first place?"

George looked down at Vivian. "Why did you come here?"

"Do we really need to ask?" Sadie interjected.

She glanced pointedly at the love bites on Vivian's neck. "Obviously she came to parade her trophies from you, showing our Louisa how desirable she is, hoping to pressure Louisa into stepping aside."

Sadie's deduction was spot-on.

George's face hardened. "Is that true?" he asked Vivian.

"No!" Vivian had regained enough composure to protest loudly. "That's not what happened at all! I heard Ms. Forbes was hospitalized and came out of concern. 

"Instead of appreciating my gesture, they attacked me—pulled my hair and threatened to cut up my face with a knife."

She looked utterly pitiful with her disheveled hair and tear-filled eyes, gazing at George with wounded innocence.

George softened visibly. He stroked her back reassuringly.

Flora laughed incredulously at the blatant lie.

She approached Vivian with a smile. "You say we hit you?"

Without warning, Flora's hand flashed out, landing a stinging slap across Vivian's cheek. "That's what hitting looks like," she said contemptuously.

As the Young family's daughter, Flora had been trained in self-defense from childhood. She knew exactly how much force to apply.

The slap left Vivian stunned, her cheek burning with pain. Her wails escalated to hysterical proportions.

But Flora wasn't satisfied. The thought of this woman destroying her friend's marriage and repeatedly provoking them made her want to deliver a few well-placed kicks as well.

Before she could act, George yanked her away. "Flora, that's enough!"

He immediately crouched beside Vivian to check her condition.

Half of Vivian's face had swollen to an angry red. Her sobs echoed throughout the room.

People in the hallway began peering in curiously. Many were confused about the situation.

Self-appointed "informants" offered explanations: "I think two mistresses are fighting over the same man."

Hearing this, Vivian's cries grew even louder. "I'm not a mistress! I'm not! George, tell them I'm not a mistress!"

Unable to calm her, George could only respond, "Of course you're not. Stop crying. I'll take you to a doctor."

He had forgotten that Louisa was still present.

Louisa had no intention of stopping him. At this point, nothing George said or did mattered to her anymore.

But Flora couldn't swallow her anger. Seeing George preparing to leave with Vivian in his arms, she exploded, "George, what the hell? Louisa is right here! What do you think you're doing?"

Sadie positioned herself in front of the door, blocking his exit.

George barked, "Get out of my way!"

"No! What are you going to do about it?" Flora raised her chin defiantly.

Sadie maintained her composure. "George, do you realize what people will think of Louisa if you walk out of here carrying that woman?"

The crowd at the door grew bolder in their speculations, debating which woman was the actual mistress.

But George couldn't focus on that now. Vivian's relentless sobbing was driving him to distraction.

His patience evaporated. "I said, get out of my way!" His final command carried the authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed.

Though Sadie and Flora were intimidated, they knew the consequences for Louisa if George left with Vivian in front of so many witnesses. They stood their ground.

George couldn't physically move them aside.

The impasse stretched on.

Louisa, who had remained silent, finally rose from her bed.

She pulled her friends aside, then gestured toward the door. "Mr. Capulet, please proceed. If you need to console your mistress, do it elsewhere. Don't shout at my friends in my presence."

Her voice was ice-cold but perfectly steady.

Her friends watched her with aching hearts.

To witness her husband defending his mistress right in front of her—how much pain must she be enduring?

George stared at her, unsettled by her composure.

As he opened his mouth to speak, Louisa cut him off coldly, "Remember this—keep your mistress on a tight leash. Don't let her disgust me with her presence again. Next time, a slapped face will be the least of her concerns."