Betrayed By The Billionaire

192

The atmosphere in the foyer fractured as Feifei, sensing the shift in the air, signaled to Serena and beat a silent, frantic retreat into the shadows of the estate. She hadn't forgotten the cold warning Xavier had delivered the day his security team tossed her into the street: Never show your face before me again, or face the consequences. For her, this was no longer a social battle—it was a survival sprint.

Beside Chloe, Liam Jr. stood like a statue of concentrated fury. His small fists were white-knuckled, his face flushed a dangerous crimson, and the veins at his temples throbbed with the effort of holding back a total psychological meltdown. He was a ticking time bomb of trauma and rage, fighting every instinct to lash out at the world. Xavier glanced at the boy, his expression unreadable, but he offered no comfort. He believed that the only way for the "Little Prince" to conquer his demons was to face them in the fire of his own will.

Xavier’s focus finally shifted to Arthur Vance. He stood with a predatory grace, his voice dropping into a lazy, cutting drawl that echoed through the silent ballroom. "President Vance, I must say, you have quite the colorful hobbies. I never realized a man of your stature enjoyed sticking his hand into a common catfight. It’s truly an eye-opening performance."

Arthur’s eyes flared with a mix of shame and stubborn anger. "A catfight? Chloe Bishop was physically assaulting these women..."

"My woman's behavior is none of your business, Arthur," Xavier interrupted, his gaze turning razor-sharp. He spared a single, lethal look at Yumie, his lips curling into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "If she hit someone, it’s because that person deserved to be hit. Do you have a shred of proof that these 'victims' of yours are actually innocent?"

The sheer arrogance of the statement left the crowd breathless. Xavier wasn't arguing facts; he was dictating reality. Yumie, feeling the weight of that icy glare, instinctively shrunk back, hiding herself behind Arthur’s broad shoulders.

Arthur held his ground, though his voice lacked its previous conviction. "Who was in the wrong? Perhaps you should ask the woman standing right next to you, President Grayson."

Xavier let out a sharp, mocking bark of laughter. The idea that he needed to consult the "truth" to decide who to protect was clearly beneath him. He didn't answer Arthur; instead, his focus shifted like a spotlight onto Giselle Zhao. "The wine on Chloe's dress. You poured it."

It wasn't a question; it was a verdict.

Giselle was already a mess of cold sweat and trembling limbs. "No... no, it wasn't me! She ran into me! Everyone saw it!" She looked desperately toward Yumie for support, but Yumie remained firmly tucked away, unwilling to draw Xavier’s fire.

"Is that so?" Xavier’s cold smile widened. "Because my eyes saw something entirely different. There are dozens of smartphones and security cameras in this foyer. Do I need to have my team pull the footage and display your disgrace on the big screen for all of Haicheng to see?"

Chloe looked up at the man shielding her. Her heart, already racing from the fever, began to hammer against her ribs like a trapped bird. The rhythmic throb in her chest was so loud she was certain everyone could hear it. For a moment, the cold, calculating "Demon" felt like the only solid thing in a shifting world.

Giselle’s legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the polished marble floor with a dull thud.

But Xavier wasn't finished. He leaned down, his presence looming over the cowering girl like a shadow. "And just a moment ago... who was it that used the term 'damaged goods'?"

"No... it wasn't... I didn't mean..." Giselle’s voice broke into incoherent sobs. she looked toward Yumie one last time, but her "friend" had completely abandoned her to the wolves.

Xavier straightened his spine, his regal aura filling the room with a suffocating pressure. He looked out at the group of socialites, his voice dropping to a terrifyingly calm whisper. "It seems some people have lived a charmed life for far too long. When you lose the ability to recognize who you are speaking to, you lose the right to live so comfortably."

The verdict has been delivered, and the "First Socialite's" rivals are being dismantled one by one by the very man who once sought to break her himself. Xavier is not defending Chloe out of love, but out of a fierce, territorial pride—no one touches what belongs to him. With the Tang family watching and Arthur Vance humiliated, the fallout of this banquet is just beginning. Will Xavier’s public protection of Chloe finally grant her the respect she’s struggled for, or will this display of power only make her a bigger target for those hiding in the shadows?

What do you think Xavier’s "punishment" for Giselle Zhao will be after they leave the banquet?