Betrayed By The Billionaire

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Yumie’s performance was flawless. By appearing to shoulder the blame and protect the sanctity of Arthur’s marriage, she painted herself as the ultimate martyr—selfless, understanding, and tragic. In Arthur’s mind, the contrast between this gentle woman and his wife, Sarah, was becoming a canyon.

Every word Yumie spoke reinforced the image of Sarah as a selfish, jealous, and narrow-minded woman. Arthur felt a simmering resentment rising in his chest. Was it not hard enough to manage a global conglomerate? He spent his days in high-stakes negotiations and cutthroat corporate battles, returning home exhausted, craving only peace. Yet, instead of sanctuary, he found a woman who turned every minor grievance into a relentless interrogation.

When Arthur remained silent, Yumie reached out, her fingers grazing his sleeve with a tentative, fragile touch. "Arthur... did you hear a word I said? Please, promise me you won't be hard on her."

"Enough, Yumie," Arthur snapped, though his irritation was directed at his absent wife. "Stop defending her. I know exactly what kind of temperament she has. Let her throw her tantrums; our conscience is clear. If she wants to make a scene, let her."

Under Yumie’s insistence that his presence at the hospital would only cause more rumors, she took a taxi alone, leaving Arthur standing in the cool night air. He didn't head home. The thought of the stifling atmosphere at the Vance estate made his skin crawl. He preferred the cold, sterile silence of his office to the emotional battlefield of his own living room.

Chapter: The Lonely Birthday

While Arthur was immersing himself in work to avoid his reality, the Vance estate was transformed into a miniature wonderland. The grand living room had been decorated like a small-scale Disney park, filled with colorful balloons, streamers, and the high-pitched laughter of a dozen children.

It was little Bella’s birthday. Sarah had gone to great lengths to organize the party, inviting all of Bella’s classmates from her early education center. Watching the children play, Sarah felt a brief respite from the suffocating cloud of her marriage. The pure, untainted joy on their faces was the only thing keeping her grounded.

She moved through the room with a camera, capturing every smile and every candid moment of the little birthday girl.

Suddenly, Bella came sprinting across the carpet, her face flushed and damp with sweat from playing. She wrapped her small arms around Sarah’s legs, her dark, bright eyes looking up with a heartbreaking earnestness. "Mommy, where’s Daddy? Does he know it’s my birthday? Why isn't he here yet?"

The innocence in the child’s voice felt like a serrated blade across Sarah’s heart. She knelt down, wiping the perspiration from the girl’s forehead and tapping her nose gently. "Just a little longer, sweetie. Daddy is likely caught up in a big meeting. Look, there are plenty of cupcakes and fruit on the table. Why don't you take your friends over for a snack?"

"Okay! Come on, everyone! Let’s eat!"

The pack of children swarmed the snack table, their laughter echoing through the halls. Sarah glanced at her watch. It was 8:00 PM. She had reminded Arthur about the party two days ago and again this morning, yet there had been no sign of him. Not even a single phone call.

The party eventually began to wind down. After two hours of running and playing, the children were growing tired, and their mothers began to gather their things to head home. Sarah had the servants bring out the centerpiece—a towering, three-tier birthday cake.

She lit three small candles, and together with the other mothers, they sang a chorus of "Happy Birthday." Bella, wearing her glittering cardboard crown, stood before the cake with her hands clasped, eyes squeezed shut as she made a silent wish. Together, mother and daughter blew out the flames.

Once the last guest had departed, the house fell into a crushing, icy silence. The colorful decorations now felt like a mockery of the emptiness in the room. Bella stood in the center of the debris, her lower lip trembling as her eyes filled with tears. "Mommy... Daddy really did forget, didn't he? He’s not coming."

Sarah scooped the little girl into her arms, pressing a firm kiss to her cheek. "He didn't forget, baby. He’s just very busy at the office. Look, he even had someone deliver your presents early this morning, remember?"

"You're lying," Bella whispered, her voice cracking. She pulled back to look Sarah directly in the eye, her small face a mask of profound rejection. "Daddy doesn't love me anymore. He doesn't even hug me when he comes home. He doesn't want to be with us."

The child’s intuition was a devastating blow. Sarah stood in the silent, festive room, holding her weeping daughter, realizing that the man who was supposed to be their anchor had completely drifted away.

The Vance family is fractured beyond repair, and the shadow of Yumie’s manipulation has finally reached the heart of the home—the innocent child. While Arthur hides in his office and Sarah grapples with her daughter's heartbreak, the fallout of the Tang banquet is still rippling through the city. Will Sarah finally decide that a cold war is no longer worth fighting, or will a surprise discovery about Arthur’s whereabouts tonight push her to take drastic action?

Do you think Sarah will take Bella and leave the Vance estate tonight to stay with Chloe?