Betrayed By The Billionaire

6

Liam Martin looked away uncomfortably and said flatly, "Your parents won't agree. I'm a cripple."

The physical flaw was a mortal wound to the young man.

"So what?"

The girl was determined and stubborn. "Liam, tonight I'm not choosing anyone but you."

For the first time, a flicker of emotion stirred in Liam Martin's calm eyes.

So what?

Didn't she notice how everyone's gazes had changed the moment she walked toward him?

If she stayed with him, she might never escape those looks for the rest of his life.

Chloe Bishop looked at the boy she had longed for all this time and bravely extended her small, pale hand. "Will you have me?"

The pretty face before him was so fair and beautiful, her dark eyes sparkling like gemstones.

She was wonderful—but she wasn't the girl he wanted.

The girl he loved was Sara Jay. She was the one he would protect with his life.

They had grown up together—childhood sweethearts.

In that car accident, Sara Jay had taken the fatal blow meant for Liam Martin, saving his life while his parents died on the spot.

Now, Sara Jay was imprisoned by his uncle Marcus Martin, held as leverage against him. He had no choice but to play along.

And for that, he needed the Bishop family's help.

The Bishop family's daughter could open many doors for him.

Liam Martin stared silently at the little figure before him for a long moment. Then he raised his hand and wrapped her soft, delicate fingers in his.

Her hand was so small. So warm.

In that moment, Chloe Bishop broke into a radiant smile—sweet and pure, tinged with youth and shyness.

It was that smile that Liam Martin would remember for the rest of his life.

At sixteen, Chloe Bishop didn't understand that people's hearts could be hidden. The angelic young man standing before her was no angel.

And the demon-like boy from earlier—perhaps he wasn't a demon at all.

In later years, Chloe Bishop would look back on this day countless times and think: If only I had chosen the demon instead of the angel.

But one wrong choice—love and hate intertwined...

After that birthday banquet, Liam Martin—chosen by Chloe Bishop—became a regular guest at the Bishop household. Charles Bishop and his wife never looked down on him for his disability. They treated him like their own son.

Charles Bishop was a shrewd, far-sighted businessman and an excellent teacher. Liam Martin was naturally gifted and picked things up after just a hint.

At eighteen, Liam Martin was more reserved and composed than his peers. He had a good temper, worked hard, was patient, and treated Chloe Bishop with nothing but care and tenderness.

Within two years, Liam Martin had earned the approval of Charles Bishop and his wife. They threw a grand engagement party for him and Chloe Bishop, who had just turned eighteen.

As for Chloe Bishop, she no longer had to study things she didn't enjoy. Whenever she had free time, she would pick up her paintbrush and draw everything—the sky, the earth, and Liam Martin.

Liam Martin was obsessed with extreme sports.

It seemed the young man was desperate to prove to the world that he was normal—that he could do everything a normal person could, and even things others wouldn't dare try.

So Chloe Bishop joined him in his madness.

Skydiving, bungee jumping, deep-sea diving, surfing, horseback riding, shooting, skiing, racing—the list went on.

Chloe Bishop once joked that aside from her grades, she had become a master of every other skill.

Of course, they had their rebellious moments too.

But Liam Martin always handled the fallout, leaving Chloe Bishop with nothing to worry about. She admired him deeply for that.

Before knowing Liam Martin, Chloe Bishop thought he was a clean, wholesome, picture-perfect boy—untouched by the world's grime.

After knowing him, she learned that this model student had a rebellious, dark side.

Liam Martin was far from a good man, but everything about him captivated Chloe Bishop completely.

At twenty-one, Liam Martin suddenly settled down and joined the Martin Group.

Now, at twenty-four, Liam Martin had spent three years resolving the Martin family's old grievances and successfully claimed the CEO position.

Chloe Bishop had finally reached the legal age to marry. And so, today's wedding had been set.

The dream drifted in and out all night. When the beautiful nightmare finally faded, she woke to find her pillow soaked with tears.

The news of Liam Martin's escape from the wedding spread like wildfire through New York City. Within a week, everyone knew—and there were already several different versions of the story.

Suddenly, Chloe Bishop—New York City's top socialite—had become the butt of everyone's jokes.

She stayed at the hospital to care for her parents and her baby sister, ignoring all the gossip swirling outside.

Liam Martin hadn't called once all week. It was as if he intended to cut all ties with the Bishop family.

Over the past couple of days, Chloe Bishop had noticed something off about her mother's mood—perhaps because Charles Bishop remained unconscious.

That evening, just as Chloe Bishop finished her shower, she heard her mother's anguished cry from outside.

She rushed out to find Mrs. Bishop collapsed on the floor.

"Mom! What happened?"

Chloe Bishop hurried to help her up, but her mother grabbed her wrist tightly. "Chloe—Lily has been taken! Go find her—quickly!"

Lily was her baby sister, Lily Bishop—just a week old.

"Lily was taken?"

Who would be so bold as to snatch a baby from a hospital?

But Chloe Bishop had no time to think. She immediately jumped up to give chase.

Just then, her mother seemed to remember something and clung to her hand. "A-Can... quick—check on your father!"

She pushed Chloe Bishop forward.

As Chloe Bishop steadied herself, she saw a man in a peaked cap hurry out of her father's room with his head down.

"Who are you?"

Her face changed. "Stop right there!"

The man broke into a run. Chloe Bishop started after him, but her mother called out, "Don't chase him—go see your father!"

When Chloe Bishop entered the room, she saw that her father's oxygen mask had been removed.

She quickly put it back on and pressed the emergency call button.

Thankfully, she had caught it in time—his condition was stable.

Two incidents in quick succession. Even a fool could see someone was targeting the Bishop family.

But Chloe Bishop didn't know what they were after.

However, from her mother's reaction, she sensed that Mrs. Bishop knew more than she was letting on.

Under Chloe Bishop's relentless questioning, her mother finally told the truth.

Arthur Bennett—Charles Bishop's cousin and the company's second-largest shareholder.

Three days ago, upon learning of Charles Bishop's condition, Arthur Bennett had tried to oust him from the CEO position and take over.

Not only that—he wanted to buy out the shares held by Chloe Bishop and her mother at a rock-bottom price and force Mrs. Bishop to sign the agreement.

It was nothing short of robbery—taking advantage of a widow and her daughter with no one to turn to.

Mrs. Bishop had refused. And now this had happened.

"Today was just a warning. If he doesn't get what he wants, your father might not be so lucky next time. And your sister..."

At that, Mrs. Bishop broke down sobbing.