Betrayed By The Billionaire

237

The Blue Velvet Lounge was now a chaotic blend of flashing strobes and weeping socialites. Julian Vance and Donovan Tang exchanged a look of pure exhaustion; they had survived literal battlefields, but three intoxicated, heartbroken women were a different kind of warfare.

"Sarah, come on. I'm taking you home," Julian said, firmly pulling Sarah Vance to her feet.

At the same time, Donovan stepped toward Chloe Bishop. Without a word, he swept her into his arms, his movements powerful and steady. He ignored the gasps of the onlookers and strode toward the exit.

Julian’s face darkened, but he didn't stop him. He knew Donovan’s protection was absolute.

Liam Martin moved to intercept them, but he stopped short when he saw Vince—the Demon CEO’s shadow—stepping into Donovan’s path. Liam knew the Grayson security detail; getting involved now would be professional suicide. He watched from the periphery, his hands clenched into fists.

The Standoff of Shadows

Donovan looked at the man blocking his way, his "Iron Commander" aura flaring with a cold, lethal intensity. "Move," he commanded, his voice a low vibration.

Vince maintained a professional, albeit strained, smile. "Commander Tang, she’s still a married woman. Where exactly do you think you're taking her?"

The reminder of Chloe’s "contract" hit Donovan like a physical blow, fueling his simmering rage. "I am personally seeing her safely home. Get out of my way."

Vince tilted his head, then slowly stepped aside, granting passage. He wasn't stupid; he knew he couldn't take Donovan in a fair fight, especially not with Chloe in the crossfire.

Chloe, completely oblivious to the tension, looked at Vince through a drunken haze. She saw two versions of him shimmering in the neon light and began to giggle. "Why are there... two of you? You look... funny," she slurred, pointing a finger before her head lolled back against Donovan’s shoulder.

Donovan carried her to his vehicle, with Vince following closely in a separate car, immediately patching through to Xavier Grayson.

The Midnight Reckoning

Thirty minutes later, the deadline expired.

Xavier Grayson did not see his wife. Instead, he stood in the driveway of the Grayson Estate, staring at a damaged black sedan and Vince, who was kneeling on the gravel, blood trickling from a small cut on his forehead.

Xavier’s gaze was a void of absolute, terrifying cold. "Find her. If you don't return with her, don't bother returning at all."

"Yes, Sir," Vince whispered, his head bowed in shame.

Once Vince departed, Xavier’s phone chimed. It was another batch of photos from Xander, accompanied by a frantic, self-righteous voice note: "Xavier, look at what she’s doing! I thought she was just high-spirited, but this... this is a disgrace to the family name..."

Xavier didn't listen to the end. With a sudden, violent motion, he hurled the phone against the stone pillar of the gates. The screen shattered into a thousand jagged pieces, a reflection of his current state of mind.

Behind him, the household staff stood like statues, their breath held in their lungs. They had served the "Demon CEO" for years, but they had never seen a fury this quiet, or this absolute.

The Hidden Chessboard

Donovan Tang had successfully lost Vince in the city traffic. He looked over at Chloe, who was sleeping peacefully in the passenger seat, her face serene and innocent. His eyes softened for a moment before turning cold again as he pulled out his own encrypted phone.

He wasn't taking her back to the Grayson mansion. Not tonight. He had promised to take her "home," but he hadn't specified which one—the cold palace of the Graysons, or the safety of the Bishop manor.

His phone vibrated. An operative was on the line.

"Sir, we’ve confirmed it. Yvonne Blue is indeed the biological mother of Liam Jr. Furthermore, Liam Martin is also secretly investigating this. Should we intervene?"

Donovan’s eyes narrowed. "Don't stop him. If he wants to dig, let him. But what about the sister? The one Liam was supposed to marry?"

"Liam gave her 10% of his company shares and two luxury properties. The engagement is officially dissolved."

Donovan let out a dark, mirthless laugh. "That’s it? He thinks he can buy his way out of that mess?"

"Your orders, Sir?"

"Apply pressure," Donovan commanded, his voice dropping to a lethal rasp. "She was a useful pawn, and she hasn't fulfilled her potential yet. I don't want to see Liam Martin anywhere near Chloe Bishop ever again. Make sure Bianca White stays focused on her revenge."

He paused, looking at the road ahead. "Also, look into the car 'accident' involving Chloe’s father. The traffic footage was wiped clean, and the vehicle vanished. I want to know who is powerful enough to scrub a crime scene in Haicheng without leaving a footprint."

Donovan Tang is no longer just a "Big Brother"; he is a shadow player with a global reach, and he is determined to dismantle the lies surrounding the Grayson and Bishop families. Meanwhile, Chloe is a sleeping captive in a game she doesn't yet understand, and Xavier Grayson is a hunter who has just been pushed past the edge of reason.

Will Xavier find Chloe before Donovan reveals the truth about Liam Jr.'s mother, or will this night end with the total collapse of the Haicheng elite?

Should Chloe wake up and demand to go back to Xavier, or trust that Donovan has a better plan for her future?