After the Affair: Falling into a Billionaire's Arms Chapter 45

Colorful confetti flew through the air in front of her.

Sadie appeared out of nowhere, arms outstretched. "Baby, welcome home!"

"So that's why you didn't pick me up from the hospital—you were hiding here," Louisa said with a laugh, though tears glistened in her eyes.

Sadie stepped forward and gave her a big hug. "Louisa, why are you crying? Today is for celebration—we're celebrating your freedom!"

"Freedom isn't the right word for such an important moment. We should say we're celebrating Louisa's rebirth!"

Louisa smiled. "Let's celebrate that we'll never be poisoned again!"

That night was their night of celebration.

The three ordered lots of food, gathered in the living room, talked and laughed loudly.

After eating and drinking their fill, they all fell asleep without realizing it.

Flora and Louisa shared a bed, sleeping soundly.

Since Louisa had already quit her job and Flora was a freelancer with no schedule, neither set an alarm. They planned to sleep until they naturally woke up.

Instead, Louisa was awakened by Sadie's phone call.

She answered groggily, eyes still closed. "Sadie, what's up?"

"Louisa, check your phone now! That vicious Hazel used the Capulet Group's official account to release a statement attacking you! Stay home—I'm on my way back!"

Sadie sounded frantic.

Louisa was instantly wide awake and grabbed her phone.

Flora, startled awake too, leaned in to look.

Half an hour ago, Hazel had released a clarification video about Vivian's situation.

In the video, Hazel had held a press conference announcing her identity, then declared that Vivian was the most innocent party in this whole mess.

She claimed the Capulet and Price families had arranged the children's marriage when they were young.

She insisted the two families were truly equal in status, just waiting for Vivian to grow up before holding the wedding.

According to Hazel, Louisa had desperately wanted to marry into wealth. Despite knowing about George's engagement, she had used underhanded methods to seduce him and get into his bed.

Afterward, George had tried to settle with a sum of money, but Louisa had been insatiable, greedily demanding 3 billion dollars.

Hazel had conveniently hidden key information, only showing records of Louisa requesting a high settlement.

She even displayed a forged marriage agreement between the Capulet and Price families.

Her conclusion: Vivian wasn't the homewrecker—Louisa was the greedy one.

---

Flora was livid. "This shameless old woman! What nonsense is she spouting?"

Louisa just laughed coldly.

Just then, Sadie burst through the door. She kicked off her shoes and rushed upstairs.

Seeing Louisa's cold smile, she was baffled. "How can you laugh at a time like this? The Capulet and Price families have united against you. The Capulet family is trying to clear Vivian's name by blaming you! How are you so calm?"

"Fight back!" Flora demanded. "We have to rip that old woman's lying mouth apart!"

"That would be falling into their trap," Louisa said softly.

Flora and Sadie looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Hazel has always thought that the Capulet family marrying me was a stain on their reputation," Louisa explained calmly. 

"She never wanted to acknowledge my existence. So why is she now pushing me into the spotlight for Vivian's sake? Isn't she afraid I'll show our marriage certificate and humiliate her?"

Sadie caught on. "You're right. She definitely wouldn't want people knowing you and George are already married. She's not stupid enough to invite that trouble."

"So what's her game?" Flora asked. "Is she risking the Capulet family's reputation just to clear Vivian's name? Vivian can't be that important. And the Capulet family has no reason to bow to the Price family's demands."

"She's not doing this for Vivian or the Price family," Louisa said with a cold smile. "She's doing it for herself."

"What do you mean?" Sadie and Flora asked simultaneously.

"I demanded 3 billion dollars in compensation from her. That's like cutting flesh from her heart.

"She doesn't want to pay, so she's using this opportunity to force me to respond.

"If I show our marriage certificate, she can claim I violated our agreement and legally refuse to pay me.

"Of course, what she really wants is for me to contact her privately.

"That way, she preserves the Capulet family's reputation, does the Price family a favor, and can negotiate down my compensation.

"It's her triple-win strategy."

"Damn it!" Flora cursed. "That old witch has it all figured out!"

Sadie looked at Louisa with admiration. "Her mind is so twisted, yet you saw right through her scheme?"

"I didn't deal with her all these years for nothing," Louisa replied.

"What should we do next?" Sadie asked. "Should I issue a legal notice and sue them?"

Louisa shook her head. "The Capulet Group has powerful lawyers. You can't win, and it would drag your firm down with us."

"I don't care!" Sadie insisted without hesitation.

Flora quickly added, "Me too. Whatever you do, I'm on your side, no questions asked."

Seeing their loyalty warmed Louisa's heart. "I know, but even if we fight, we have no chance of winning unless I show our marriage certificate. We can't stop the rumors otherwise."

"So we have no options?" Flora asked. "We just let them spread lies and bully us?"

Louisa frowned.

Though she had seen through Hazel's plot, she had no way to counter it.

They were truly stuck.

Flora and Sadie were furious, unwilling to let Louisa be treated this way.

Just as the three were at a loss, Louisa's phone suddenly rang.

All three looked at the screen.

Caller ID: Julian Tudor.