Betrayed By The Billionaire

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Chloe Bishop wanted nothing more than to distance herself from Liam Martin. She had made her boundaries clear long ago, and in the shark-infested waters of Haicheng high society, she was already treading on thin ice with the Grayson family. The last thing she needed was a public spectacle to fuel Xavier’s cold fury.

But the nightmare she feared most was already unfolding in the shadows.

Yvonne’s sister, Bluebelle, had followed the group like a ghost. Her phone was raised, capturing the exact moment Liam leaned toward Chloe, his expression a mask of longing. Bluebelle stared at the screen, her eyes burning with an unmasked, toxic jealousy.

"The Bishop family is supposed to be in ruins," she hissed to herself. "How do you still get to live like a princess, with every powerful man in this city treating you like a sacred treasure?"

A cruel smirk twisted her lips. "A woman cannot serve two masters. I can’t wait to see how Xavier Grayson handles his 'loyal' wife when he sees you fluttering between your ex and your 'Big Brother' commander."

Bluebelle’s thumb tapped the screen again. A few yards away, Liam reached out to grab Chloe’s hand, but Donovan Tang stepped in with military precision, shielding Chloe behind his broad frame. From Bluebelle's angle, it looked like a tense standoff between two lovers over a prize. She watched as Donovan eventually led a shaky Chloe off the stage, while Liam and Julian Vance watched them go—one with burning regret, the other with a silent, helpless sorrow.

"Tsk tsk. Look at all these lovelorn fools," Bluebelle whispered, her voice dripping with malice. "Exquisite. Simply exquisite. I wonder how the 'Demon CEO' will feel when he receives these."

She hit 'send,' forwarding the batch to her sister, Yvonne Blue.

The Watcher in the Dark

Vince saw everything. He watched Bluebelle’s predatory movements from the edge of the bar, his hand already reaching for his phone to intercept her. But before he could step forward, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

It was Xavier.

Vince’s brow furrowed. He looked at Bluebelle, then back at his phone, a bad premonition settling in his gut. He knew he could stop one girl with a phone, but the lounge was packed—dozens of people were currently recording the "First Socialite" and her entourage. He couldn't stop the world.

He stepped into a quieter hallway to answer. "Sir."

"Where is she?" Xavier’s voice was a flatline, devoid of any warmth or inflection.

"At the lounge," Vince replied honestly.

"With whom?"

Vince knew there was no point in lying; the photos were likely already in Xavier’s inbox. " Sarah, Lyra, Julian Vance, and Donovan Tang. Liam Martin is also here, though he is at a separate table."

The slight defensive edge in Vince’s voice—the way he tried to distance Chloe from Liam—wasn't lost on Xavier. The silence on the other end of the line stretched for a long, agonizing minute.

"I want her in front of me within thirty minutes," Xavier finally said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, glacial register.

The line went dead. Vince exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding and hurried back into the bar.

The Sobbing Trio

Back at the booth, Chloe had slumped into her seat and reached for another glass. Donovan didn't stop her, but Julian had finally had enough. He reached out and snatched the glass from her hand. "Don't drink anymore, Chloe. You're past your limit."

Chloe stared at her empty palm for several seconds, her vision swimming. Then, without warning, she lunged forward and threw her arms around Sarah, letting out a raw, heart-wrenching wail.

Whether it was the alcohol, the stress of the "Grayson Contract," or the sheer injustice of Sarah’s situation, the dam had broken. Hearing Chloe cry, Sarah and Lyra—both equally intoxicated and emotionally shattered—joined in.

Soon, the three most beautiful and influential women in Haicheng were huddled together in a booth, sobbing as if the world were ending.

Despite the roar of the DJ and the chatter of the crowd, the sight was a magnet for attention. Dozens of smartphones were held aloft, capturing the "Great Breakdown of the Socialites." Within minutes, the video of the "Three Crying Graces" was circulating through every WeChat circle in the city, becoming the ultimate viral gossip.

Vince pushed through the crowd and felt a massive headache coming on. He looked at the three women locked in a sobbing embrace and wondered how on earth he was supposed to peel Chloe away from her friends and get her to the "Demon CEO" before the thirty-minute timer hit zero.

The clock is ticking, and the city is watching. Chloe is currently a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons, and Xavier Grayson is counting down the seconds. When the "Ice King" finally arrives to claim his "Queen," will anyone in the Blue Velvet Lounge be left standing?

Should Vince use force to take Chloe away, or will the arrival of Xavier himself be the only way to end the spectacle?