Betrayed By The Billionaire

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The heavy silence in the hallway felt like a physical weight as Snow’s fragile, trembling silhouette finally vanished into the shadows of the guest wing. Liam Martin didn't look after her; his eyes remained fixed on a point in the distance, cold and resolute. He turned his gaze toward Ice, the man who had shared in the years of guilt and searching. "Follow me to the study," Liam commanded, his voice devoid of its usual melodic warmth.

Half an hour later, the soft glow of a desk lamp illuminated the heavy documents Liam pushed across the mahogany surface toward Ice. "I am transferring ten percent of the Martin Group’s shares to Snow," Liam stated, his voice as smooth and emotionless as polished stone. He then placed two high-end property deeds on top of the contract. "Along with these two estates in the city center. This is what she is owed."

Ice stared at the signed and sealed transfer agreement, his heart hammering against his ribs in sheer shock. Years ago, when they had received those horrific photos from Marcus Martin implying that Snow had been murdered, Liam had been consumed by a frantic, desperate grief. In an act of penance, he had transferred twenty percent of the company’s shares to Ice. That original portion was meant to represent both siblings' stake in the family legacy, a way to honor the memory of the sister they thought they had lost.

But now, by adding another ten percent specifically for Snow, the siblings' combined holdings were equal to Liam’s own thirty percent stake. In terms of corporate power, they were now his equals. Ice recognized the properties as well—one was a sprawling luxury villa in an elite gated community, and the other was a penthouse with an unrivaled panoramic view of the bustling city skyline. Ice had been present when Liam purchased them; he knew their combined market value exceeded a hundred million dollars.

Ice looked up from the papers, his voice tight with a mixture of awe and suspicion. "You’re trying to use money to buy your way out of the debt you owe her for saving your life. You think you can just pay off six years of her suffering?"

"I said this is what she is owed," Liam replied, reverting to his mask of a refined, gentle prince. "With these assets, Snow will be a socialite of the highest standing. She will never have to endure another cold shoulder or a look of disdain. No one in this city will ever dare to look down on her again. She will have the ultimate security."

It was true. With this kind of wealth, their status was bulletproof. No one could bully them or treat them as charity cases ever again. Ice felt the immense weight of the documents in his hands. "Liam, regardless of your motives, I have to thank you on Snow's behalf. This is her security for life."

While the men negotiated her future, Snow sat huddled on the edge of her bed, her face twisted in a mask of dark, simmering fury. She gripped the corner of her duvet with such force her knuckles turned white, biting down on the fabric to stifle a scream of rage. In her mind, the world could betray her, but Liam Martin could not.

For six years, she had lived a life that was less than human. She had been beaten, spat upon, and humiliated daily. The iron shackle around her ankle had been a constant reminder of her status as a prisoner. She had endured the unendurable, surviving on the flickering hope that the boy she loved was waiting for her. Every scar on her body was a testament to the suffering she had faced because of him.

And now, he had betrayed her. He had fallen for another woman—Chloe Bishop—and tonight, he had intentionally used his own disfigurement to push her away and break their engagement. How could he be so cruel? What did those six years of hell mean if he could just cast her aside with a check and a cold look?

Liam Martin, she thought, her eyes glittering with a poisonous, obsidian light, you will never get rid of me. You think money can buy your freedom? You think you can walk back to her? Never.

A soft knock came at the door. "Snow? Can I come in?" It was Ice.

She didn't answer. When Ice pushed the door open, he saw her curled into a tiny ball, her head buried in the blankets as she wept silently. The sight broke his heart. He locked the door behind him and sat on the edge of the bed. "Snow, look at me. If you love him this much, why did you choose to let go in that room? Why not fight for him?"

Snow looked up, her face a mess of tears and raw grief. "Brother, he doesn't love me. Even if I forced him to stay, it would only be out of pity. I don't want his pity. I don't want to be the woman he stays with because he feels he has to."

Ice felt a surge of relief. If she could see reason, perhaps they could move on and enjoy their new fortune. He took her hand firmly. "I'm glad you can see it that way. Letting go now will hurt for a while, but a forced marriage would be a lifetime of pain. Look at what he’s given us—you’re a wealthy woman now."

However, Snow shook her head violently, her tear-stained face hardening into something terrifyingly fixed. "Brother, I can't let go. I love him too much. If it wasn't for the thought of him, I never would have survived those six years. He was my only reason for breathing. If he leaves, I have nothing left. My soul belongs to him."

Ice sighed, frustrated by her obsession. "But he doesn't love you, Snow! He loves Chloe Bishop!"

"Then I’ll wait until he changes his mind," Snow said with a chilling, stubborn intensity. "After all, the woman he actually loves is already married to Xavier Grayson, isn't she? As long as she is out of the way, I am the only one left."

The Toxic Resolve

Snow has realized that her "victim" status is her greatest weapon, and while she accepts the wealth Liam has given her, she has no intention of letting him go. Her focus has shifted from mere survival to a targeted obsession with reclaiming Liam by ensuring his path back to Chloe is permanently blocked.

As the dawn approaches, Liam Martin believes he has bought his way back to a clean slate, but he has actually just funded the very woman who intends to keep him trapped in his past.

With Chloe Bishop now firmly established as Xavier Grayson's wife, do you think Snow will try to use her new wealth to reach out to Xavier and form a secret alliance to keep Chloe and Liam apart?