After the Affair: Falling into a Billionaire's Arms Chapter 71

"Well..." Sadie hesitated, not answering immediately.

"What's with all the hesitation? Just tell us!" Flora pressed impatiently.

Sadie remained silent, glancing at Louisa first.

Louisa smiled at her reassuringly before explaining to Flora, "Whether the Capulet family intervenes or not doesn't matter. George, for all his faults, wouldn't stoop to underhanded tactics. Without his interference, the Price family is free to do whatever they want."

"And what can they do?" Flora didn't understand.

"The Price Group built their fortune on illegal data trading," Louisa clarified. "Their network is complex, and they're ruthless. To save Vivian, they might resort to desperate measures."

Sadie nodded. "Exactly. I heard today that Vivian has already confessed, and sentencing was just days away. But somehow Caden managed to contact someone high up in the police department and had the whole matter suppressed."

"Suppressed? Damn it!" Flora couldn't help cursing. "That little tramp does this to our Louisa, and she gets released after just one day?"

Louisa patted her hand to calm her down, then turned to Sadie. "Whatever they do, don't let them disrupt your strategy. If things get serious, keep your law firm out of it."

"So we're just letting her off?" Flora asked, still indignant.

Louisa smiled slowly. "I didn't want any more entanglements with those people. But if they're determined to get out, let them. Do you really think I can't handle someone like Vivian?"

Her tone was soft and measured, but the steam rising from her bowl couldn't melt the coldness in her eyes.

Sadie felt useless. Despite being a lawyer, she seemed powerless in this situation.

---

The next morning, when Louisa and Flora woke up, Sadie was already gone.

Louisa was about to go freshen up when her phone rang. It was Sadie, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Louisa, you won't believe it! That tramp Vivian won't be so smug anymore. She's actually going to be sentenced in the next few days!"

"What happened?" Louisa asked immediately.

"My assistant contacted me early this morning about new developments in Vivian's case, so I rushed over. I don't know the exact details, but apparently Caden was blocked while trying to pull strings. Their bail application was rejected outright."

Sadie could barely contain her excitement as she analyzed the situation. "I think Mr. Tudor must be working behind the scenes."

Louisa was confused. "What does Mr. Tudor have to do with this?"

"Think about it—in Silverlight City, very few people can completely suppress the Price family. Among them, the only one who knows you and would help you is Mr. Tudor."

"That seems unlikely." Louisa couldn't imagine Julian involving himself in such matters.

"Why is it unlikely?" Flora chimed in, having been listening. "Mr. Tudor is obviously getting revenge for you."

"Exactly," Sadie agreed emphatically.

Louisa still found it hard to believe Julian would intervene. Just then, another call came through—from Julian himself.

Louisa paused, surprised. She wasn't even at work yet. What could he want?

"What are you waiting for? Answer it!" Flora urged. "Ask him if he was behind this."

Though Louisa couldn't figure out why Julian would help her, Sadie's words made a lot of sense—Julian was the only one she knew could do such things.

After a moment's hesitation, Louisa ended Sadie's call and answered Julian's. "Mr. Tudor," she greeted respectfully.

"Ms. Forbes, you seem quite busy this early morning," his deep, pleasant voice came through, referring to how long it took her to answer.

Louisa mentally sighed. He was her boss, so she had to endure his comments.

Flora was frantically gesturing for her to ask about Vivian.

Louisa nodded, trying to formulate her question, but before she could speak, Julian continued, "Come over."

"Alright," she responded automatically. Though she didn't know why he wanted to see her, she had to comply with her boss's request.

She quickly washed up, changed out of her pajamas into a flowing floral dress with a black knit undershirt, and grabbed a black casual blazer before heading downstairs.

Flora stopped her. "Why are you wearing so many layers?"

"What's wrong with it?" Louisa looked down at her outfit, seeing nothing amiss. She couldn't be too casual when meeting her boss, but since it wasn't work, being too formal didn't seem right either. This felt appropriate.

Flora gave up arguing and let her go.

Twenty minutes had passed since Julian's call by the time Louisa left.

---

His door was ajar, not locked. She knocked lightly but received no response.

"Mr. Tudor?" she called tentatively. Still no answer.

Louisa hesitated, confused. He'd called her over, but wasn't here?

The slightly open door seemed left that way for her. Perhaps he couldn't come to the door?

She cautiously pushed it open and entered. The living room was empty.

She took in the space—much larger than her apartment, with a full wall of spotless floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Dark gray curtains paired with white sheers, matte gray stone flooring throughout, and furniture strictly in black, white, and gray. Like the man himself—understated, aloof, austere.

But where was he?

"Mr. Tudor? Mr. Tudor? Are you here?" she called again.

Julian emerged from the bathroom just in time to hear her question. "Why the rush?," he replied dryly.

Louisa had been facing away from him. The sudden voice startled her. She turned to see him stepping out in only a dark blue bathrobe.