After the Affair: Falling into a Billionaire's Arms Chapter 56

Julian's gaze lingered on Louisa's face with a flicker of surprise and something more complex.

She didn't notice. Her response had been purely instinctive.

While she remembered Julian rescuing her last night, everything after that was a complete blank. He didn't bring it up either.

"It's okay now," he reassured her instead. "Those people didn't succeed in hurting you. The sedatives and aphrodisiacs they injected have been cleared from your system—no lasting damage."

No lasting damage except for the two cuts she'd inflicted on herself. His eyes dropped to her bandaged hands, filling with a mixture of cold fury and heartache.

Louisa missed his look. She simply nodded. "Thank you." Then, raising her head to meet his eyes. "You saved me again. I now owe you three lives."

Three life-saving favors. She had no idea how she could ever repay him.

Julian's smile was faint. "Let's keep the debt."

The words left her momentarily speechless.

Teddy arrived shortly after to report. "Mr. Tudor, we've contained the situation at Dawnlight Club. Everyone there has been instructed to keep quiet about today's events."

He continued, "The five men and the female server have been detained. Under interrogation, they revealed that George ordered the attack on Ms. Forbes."

At this, Teddy cast Louisa a sympathetic glance. To be betrayed by your own husband—what woman could easily accept that?

Julian looked surprised. He had expected Vivian to be behind this, not George.

Noticing Louisa's lack of shock, he asked quietly, "It really was him?"

She nodded.

She had wanted to end things with George amicably, with dignity intact on both sides. But after this—he'd better watch out. She wouldn't let him get away with it.

Her fists clenched tightly, eyes swirling with a terrifying calm and hatred.

"Your hands are still injured," Julian reprimanded, his tone unlike anything she'd heard from him before. "Don't you want them to heal?"

Was he angry? She looked up at him, saying nothing, but the pained expression on her face was heartbreaking.

Julian sighed silently. "I just find it hard to believe George would go this far. Maybe he doesn't even know—maybe Vivian is behind it all."

"It was him," Louisa replied, her voice hollow and final.

After a brief silence, Julian asked, "What do you plan to do next? I have my people watching those six individuals. Private settlement or police—I can help with either."

Louisa didn't answer immediately. Neither option would satisfy even a fraction of her hatred. Vivian, Hazel, and now George—they had hurt her repeatedly. This time, she wouldn't let them off the hook.

"Keep them detained one more day," she finally told Julian, her voice edged with determination. "Tomorrow I'll resolve everything at once."

Julian said nothing, just shot a meaningful glance at Teddy.

Teddy understood the look immediately and offered, "Ms. Forbes, whenever you need people, just contact me."

"Thank you," she replied sincerely.

She didn't stay at the hospital much longer. That same night, Julian drove her back to Cozy Community.

---

Louisa told neither Sadie nor Flora about what had happened.

It wasn't until the next day, when they heard that Vivian and George would be announcing their engagement at the birthday celebration, that they rushed to Louisa's home.

She had just taken a shower and prepared breakfast—a sandwich and a glass of milk. She sat at the dining table, calmly eating, bite by bite.

But her calmness was more frightening than any storm.

Flora and Sadie were startled by her demeanor as they hurried inside after removing their shoes.

"Louisa, are you okay?" they asked in unison.

Louisa glanced at them. "I'm fine. Why are you here?"

"How can you ask that? George and Vivian are announcing their engagement today. Did you know?" Flora blurted out.

"Of course I knew," Louisa replied with a nod, slight but firm.

"You know and you're this calm?" Flora asked incredulously.

"Being hysterical won't solve anything."

Louisa's cold smile was both composed and dangerous.

Flora and Sadie exchanged glances, immediately understanding—their Louisa was preparing to strike back today.

As Flora was about to speak, Sadie noticed the bandage wrapped around Louisa's left wrist.

"Louisa! What happened to your hand?" she cried out.

Louisa's attention finally turned to her own wrist.

The two deep cuts from the previous night had severed blood vessels, and the wounds hadn't yet healed.

Realizing she couldn't hide it, she told her friends about the previous night's events.

Sadie and Flora were stunned.

When Flora recovered, she exploded in anger, "That fucking George! Is he even human? How dare he do this to you? And Vivian too—they're both goddamn monsters!"

Flora was so enraged she looked ready to tear them apart on the spot.

"Exactly!" Even the typically calm Sadie couldn't contain her fury. "Those bastards! To do something like this to you—I won't let them get away with it!"

Compared to their outrage, Louisa remained eerily calm.

"Louisa," Flora said, "tell us what you're planning. We're on your side—we'll help you make them pay!"