After the Affair: Falling into a Billionaire's Arms Chapter 86

Julian looked at her smug little expression and found himself smirking. "The reward is—you'll join me on a business trip Saturday."

One sentence was all it took for the air in the car to freeze.

Louisa glared at him. "Mr. Tudor, surely you realize business trips are punishments, not rewards?"

"Are they?" Just two casual words.

Louisa was speechless. She muttered under her breath, "Con artist." He was tricking her, and he had the nerve to call her the con artist.

Julian seemed to hear her thoughts and chuckled softly. "Have you ever met a boss who keeps his promises?"

Grudge-holder. Louisa added another trait to Julian's list: holds grudges, serious grudges. 

Her situation was truly pitiful—slaving away for her boss during work hours, constantly running into him after hours, and now sacrificing her weekend rest to go on a business trip with him? Nobody in their right mind would want her experience.

She turned her face toward the window, falling silent.

Julian glanced at the back of her head, surprised by her strong reaction. 

"Are you angry?" he asked. The question came out soft and low, and if you listened carefully, you could hear a hint of tenderness—something seductive, almost like he was trying to coax her.

Louisa's body tensed. Something felt strange. She wasn't actually angry about something so minor. 

Forget business trips—considering he'd saved her life three times, she could work for him her entire life and still be in his debt. 

The truth was, being with him felt relaxed and comfortable. This easy-going atmosphere often left her guard down, many of her words and actions coming naturally, without overthinking.

Now things had gotten awkward, and with him speaking to her in that odd tone, she didn't know how to respond. 

Fortunately, their community entrance was just ahead. She pretended not to hear him and maintained her silence.

Julian didn't press further, turning to pack up his laptop. But as the car entered the complex, Louisa suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

It was George.

He stood leaning against his car door, cigarette between his fingers, his expression impatient and somewhat anxious. Apparently, he'd managed to track down her address after all.

In an instant, all expression drained from Louisa's face, replaced by an icy coldness—winter-like frost. 

Outside, George seemed to sense something and turned to look in her direction. Without thinking, Louisa ducked down, avoiding his line of sight.

In the darkness of night, with the dim lighting inside the car, George saw nothing. The car smoothly entered the community. 

George stared at the taillights, frowning. A strange, inexplicable feeling lingered in his heart—the certainty that Louisa was in that car. 

And that vehicle—a black limited-edition Maybach—though understated, clearly had top-tier specifications and an exceptionally prestigious license plate.

As if sensing something, his face immediately clouded over.

Jared approached him. "Mr. Capulet, what's wrong?"

"Find out if that's Julian's car," George ordered.

"It likely is. I'll confirm right away." Jared pulled out his phone to make arrangements.

"And the house purchase—speed things up. No delays." The mere thought of Louisa with Julian made him unable to wait a minute longer.

Meanwhile, in the car, Julian looked down at Louisa, who was sprawled across his lap, and said calmly, "Don't worry. He can't get in." 

This was an extremely high-end community—outsiders couldn't enter without a resident's permission.

Louisa sighed with relief, only then realizing that in her panic, she'd actually collapsed onto his lap. 

Her face flushed crimson as she quickly sat up, pretending to casually fix her hair. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."

Julian ignored her apology. "Are you really that afraid of him?"

Louisa stared out the window. After a long moment, she finally said quietly, "I'm not afraid of him. I just don't want to see him."

In her marriage with George, from love to indifference, she seemed to have lived through an entire century. 

From initial anger, devastation, pain, disappointment, resentment, reluctance, and inner conflict—to finally cutting ties and truly letting go. 

Throughout the process, she'd kept all the suffering to herself while giving him all the dignity. In the end, all she wanted was a graceful conclusion.

She didn't understand why George was still pursuing her now. But she no longer wanted to face him or have any further entanglements.

Julian sat beside her, seemingly sensing the profound sadness from deep within her heart, and that vague feeling of brokenness. 

His chest felt as if a massive stone were pressing down on it—tight and suffocating. It was a feeling of heartache. But he couldn't find words of comfort.

After a long silence, he reached out and gently ruffled her hair. 

Louisa snapped out of her painful memories and turned to him, her confused eyes questioning.

He said softly, "Let's get out. We're home."

---

For many, this night was destined to be sleepless.

For George. For Louisa. For Julian too.

After his shower, when he emerged from the bathroom, the night was already deep. Wearing a dark gray silk robe, he poured himself a glass of water and sat on the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the bright moonlight outside. 

Yet what kept flashing before his eyes were Louisa's broken, sorrowful eyes from earlier in the car.

Ten years of love—even if truly let go—how does one completely walk away from that kind of pain?

He pondered briefly before picking up his phone and dialing a number. The call connected quickly.

Julian asked, "Where are you?"

A lazy, alluring voice answered, "Regal City, like I told you. Why ask? Missing me, Mr. Tudor?"

Julian snorted, "Cut the nonsense. I need you to find something for me."