Betrayed By The Billionaire

58

When Chloe saw Xavier again, he had changed into a fresh suit. What caught her attention, however, was the glint of metal on his hand—he was wearing the wedding ring again.

Did the Old Madam say something to him? she wondered.

Xavier walked toward her, each step radiating a cold, natural authority. Chloe’s body instinctively stiffened, the phantom pains of the previous night rushing back like a recurring nightmare. She was afraid of him; the memory of his clinical cruelty had left her shaken.

But Xavier didn't even look at her. He leaned down, scooped up Liam Jr. from her side, and strode out of the room without a backward glance, leaving only the oppressive weight of his presence behind.

Chloe let out a long, shaky breath, steadying herself against the edge of the toddler's bed. She just wanted to crawl into her own room and disappear for a while.

That was when Nanny White walked in, carrying a glass of warm milk. He set it down on a nearby table and looked at Chloe with a professional, neutral expression. "Madam, please make a trip back to the Bishop estate to retrieve the items listed here. Tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM, please ensure you and your mother arrive at the Bishop Group on time."

Chloe blinked, stunned. "You mean... I can go home?" Her voice rose with cautious hope. "I don't have to come back tonight?"

Nanny White nodded. "Yes, Madam. You understood correctly."

A brilliant, genuine smile broke across Chloe’s face, lighting up her features for the first time in days. "And you said Xavier is going to the Bishop Group tomorrow?"

"Everything is prepared," Nanny White replied with a slight smile.

This was the news Chloe had been living for. Xavier was finally moving against Arthur Bishop. She could only imagine the look on her uncle's face when the "Demon CEO" finally showed his hand. For a fleeting second, Chloe wondered if Xavier was wearing the ring and granting her this freedom because he had actually listened to his grandmother’s pleas for them to be a real couple.

"I'll head out right now," Chloe said, tucking the list away. She was desperate to leave this gilded cage, especially after the humiliation of the past twelve hours.

"Wait, Madam," Nanny White intervened, stepping forward with the glass of milk. "Please drink this first."

"I'm not hungry." Chloe was already halfway to the door, her mind already on her parents.

Nanny White blocked her path, his expression turning grave and unyielding. "Madam, this is the Master's explicit order. You must drink this before you are permitted to leave."

Chloe stared at the milk. Slowly, the joy drained from her face as the hidden meaning of the "requirement" hit her like a physical blow. "So... there are conditions."

She knew exactly what had been stirred into that milk.

How pathetic she was. Just moments ago, she had dared to daydream that he wore the ring out of some growing affection or a desire for a "normal" marriage. What a foolish, desperate fantasy.

Nanny White delivered Xavier’s message word-for-word: "The Master said that Liam Jr. will be his only child."

Chloe’s lips curled into a bitter, hollow smile. "I see. What he means is that I'm not worthy of carrying a Grayson heir, right?"

Nanny White lowered his head, unable to meet her eyes. "Madam..."

"I understand."

Chloe snatched the glass and downed the contents in one go, the liquid feeling like lead in her stomach. "Is that sufficient?"

Nanny White bowed respectfully and stepped aside, clearing the way.

Chloe felt a sudden, stinging urge to cry, but she forced it back. What is there to cry about? she scolded herself. It was just a night. It’s just a pill. What does it matter? She had known from the moment she walked into his office that she would always be the one kneeling in this relationship.

She sniffed back the tears, squared her shoulders, and went to change. After a quick packing session, she headed out to the driveway, where a brand-new Bugatti was waiting for her.