Betrayed By The Billionaire

57

The Old Madam looked at Chloe Bishop, whose face was currently flushed like a morning sunrise, and her heart swelled with joy. In this day and age, most young women were far too bold and uninhibited; it was rare to find someone who still had the grace to blush.

Thinking of this, the Old Madam’s eyes suddenly grew misty. Her voice trembled with emotion as she patted the back of Chloe’s hand. "Good... that’s very good. Grandmother can finally rest easy now..."

For years, Xavier Grayson had treated women like a plague. In his mid-twenties, he didn't just lack a girlfriend—he didn't even allow a female fly near him. This had been a source of immense anxiety for the matriarch.

Her worry had peaked six months ago when Xavier suddenly returned from the United States cradling a baby boy of unknown origin, claiming the child was his son. When she pressed him about the mother, he coldly informed her she was dead and declared he would never give Liam Jr. a stepmother, nor would he ever father another child.

That revelation had sent the Old Madam into a genuine fainting spell. Upon waking, she sent investigators to America, only to find he had never even had a steady girlfriend there. Fearing her grandson harbored some "unnatural" fixations, she resorted to every dramatic tactic in the book—tears, tantrums, and threats—until he finally agreed to find a wife to "care for the boy."

Now, she felt a profound sense of peace. Her "Iceberg" of a grandson had finally thawed. She knew it! With such a breathtakingly beautiful wife wandering around him every day, how could any man resist? It was only a matter of time before his heart followed his lead.

However, the Old Madam had no idea that this was purely wishful thinking. To Xavier, last night was an anomaly—a biological collision that changed nothing about the cold, transactional nature of their arrangement.

"Grandmother?" Chloe asked, feeling flustered. Why was the Old Madam suddenly crying?

The matriarch wiped her eyes and forced a smile. "It’s nothing, dear. When you get to my age, you become sentimental. I’m just happy—so happy for both of you."

She stopped walking and gripped Chloe’s hand tightly. "Promise me, Chloe... live a good life with Xavier. He isn't nearly as terrifying as the rumors suggest. You'll see that once you've spent more time with him."

Looking into the Old Madam's pleading eyes, Chloe felt a wave of complex emotions. Could she really live with Xavier like a normal couple? If he were willing, she wouldn't hesitate. But the power in this house had never been in her hands. What was the use of the Old Madam begging her?

"Chloe, promise me."

Chloe felt her hand being squeezed so hard it actually stung. Unable to bear the elder woman's distress, she spoke softly. "Grandmother, I promise. We are already married, aren't we?"

The Old Madam beamed, her face breaking into a wide, relieved grin. "Yes! You’re absolutely right."

The Cold Reality of the Dining Table

At lunch, Xavier’s behavior remained exactly as it had been before. The physical intimacy of the previous night hadn't shifted his internal compass by a single degree. Even though Chloe was sitting right beside him, he didn't spare her a single glance.

Chloe sat stiffly, her heart turning to lead. They had shared the most intimate act two people can perform, yet their souls remained as distant as strangers—or worse, like a traveler and a nuisance he wished to avoid. Despite being hungry moments ago, the sight of the delicious feast now made her feel physically ill.

After the meal, the Old Madam pulled Xavier aside, her expression turning stern. "Fine, you won't have a grand wedding. But you will wear the ring. You and Chloe are legally wed; you should treat her with the care she deserves. Look at the way you acted just now—does that look like a family to you?"

Xavier’s response was characteristically detached. "I married her because we both had something to gain. We both understood the terms of the deal."

"But she is your woman now! Your wife! You have a duty to step into the role of a husband and treat her well."

"As of right now," Xavier said, standing up to end the conversation, "I have not mistreated her." He sighed, clearly wanting to avoid a full-blown argument. "I’ll wear the ring. Now, you should head back. The Old Man won't be happy if you keep running over here to check on me."

Watching Xavier’s solitary, cold silhouette as he walked away, the Old Madam could only let out a helpless sigh. This child had been influenced by his mother and his environment from a young age, leading to a deep-seated prejudice against women. It wasn't something that would change overnight.

I only hope Chloe can melt that frozen, heartless soul of his, she prayed silently.