Betrayed By The Billionaire

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Liam pulled Sara into his protective embrace, his eyes hardening as he leveled a frigid gaze at his grandmother. "Grandmother, Sara is my woman. I ask that you show her the respect she deserves."

Madam Martin remained unimpressed, her critical eyes sweeping over Sara like she was inspecting flawed merchandise. "The girl has a 'thin fate' written all over her face. Small-minded and fragile—hardly the stature required for the mistress of this house. But since you’ve made your choice, I won’t waste my breath. I’ll head to the temple tomorrow to consult the monks and pick an auspicious date for your union."

"Thank you, Grandmother," Liam replied, his voice devoid of warmth. "Our home is simple tonight; we won't be keeping you for dinner."

The sun had already set, yet Liam was effectively throwing an elderly woman out on an empty stomach. In the world of high society, such a move was a declaration of war.

The old woman stood up with a sharp huff. "I’m used to coarse tea and plain rice. Even if you served a mountain of delicacies, I wouldn't crave them. I’d likely choke on the lack of hospitality." She turned on her heel and swept out of the villa.

The moment the door closed, Sara wrenched her hand from Liam’s. Sobbing with a sense of profound grievance, she ran to her room and bolted the door. Leo hurried after her, his voice frantic as he tried to console his sister through the wood.

Liam stood in the center of the silent parlor, a sudden, inexplicable wave of irritation crashing over him.

The Bishop Estate: A Rare Warmth

While the Martin household was freezing over, the Bishop dining room was filled with the aroma of a seafood feast. Chloe spent the evening peeling king prawns for Liam Jr., who was eating with a gusto that brought a genuine sparkle to his eyes.

Across from them, Xavier ate with a quiet, effortless grace. Mrs. Bishop watched the two of them, her smile deepening with every passing minute. To her, they looked like a perfect match. "Xavier, you’ve had a long day. Why don't the three of you stay over tonight?"

Chloe’s hands paused mid-peel. She glanced at Xavier, expecting a swift, cold refusal. He wasn't the type to adjust his schedule for anyone.

Xavier looked at Mrs. Bishop. After a deliberate silence, he set down his chopsticks. "Fine."

He turned to the butler standing nearby. "Go back and bring a change of clothes for us."

Chloe was stunned. Xavier Grayson was staying the night? He had been acting uncharacteristically flexible all day, and it was starting to feel suspicious.

Mrs. Bishop was overjoyed. "Wonderful! Having you all here makes the house feel alive again."

Caught up in her mother’s happiness, Chloe finished peeling a large prawn and, as a silent "reward" for his cooperation, placed it in Xavier’s dish.

Little Liam Jr., who had been patiently waiting for his next prawn, saw the prize go to his father. His small mouth tightened into a hard line, and he glared at Xavier with silent, toddler-sized fury.

Xavier ignored his son’s indignation entirely. He picked up the prawn and ate it with an air of smug satisfaction, causing the little boy’s cheeks to puff out like a disgruntled pufferfish.

The two women couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry, Liam," Mrs. Bishop cooed. "Mom will peel another one for you right now."

Perhaps it was the word "Mom" that did the trick, but the boy’s anger vanished instantly. He flashed a rare, shy smile at Mrs. Bishop that nearly melted her heart. Chloe’s gaze softened as she handed him two more prawns, watching him eat with content.

The Sanctuary of the Bedroom

After dinner and a brief visit to her father’s bedside, Chloe led Xavier and the boy to her personal suite.

The moment they entered, Xavier began a slow, predatory scan of the room. Chloe felt a wave of relief that she had scrubbed every trace of Liam Martin from the space days ago. There were no photos, no gifts, no lingering ghosts.

Suddenly, Xavier stopped by her wardrobe. His dark eyes narrowed as he looked at her. "There isn't anything... interesting hidden in here, is there?"

"What?" Chloe asked, genuinely confused.

Xavier let out a dry, mocking chuckle. "No more 'unopened' surprises from the past?"

Chloe’s face erupted in heat. He was referencing the lingerie she’d claimed wasn't hers during their first night. "No! Absolutely not. I told you, those weren't mine. I hadn't even touched them before you saw them!"

A dark, wicked glint flickered in Xavier’s handsome features. "You sound almost disappointed."

"I am not! How could you even say that?" Chloe stammered. Frantic to end the conversation, she grabbed a silk nightgown from the drawer. "I’m going to shower. Make yourself at home."