Betrayed By The Billionaire

149

Chloe forced a brittle smile, her arms winding around Xavier’s neck in a defiant embrace. "So, no matter how much you test me or humiliate me, I’m just supposed to keep smiling and pleasing you, right?"

"You call that humiliation?"

The faint, elegant scent of her perfume drifted into his senses, but Xavier’s expression remained a mask of ice. He clamped down on her slender wrists, his grip tightening without restraint. "Let me tell you something: this kind of 'humiliation' is going to be a permanent fixture from now on. You'd better toughen up that glass heart of yours."

Chloe winced, her brow furrowing as the pressure intensified. She felt as though her bones might snap. Gritting her teeth against the sharp pain, she gasped, "If you're so bothered by the idea that I still have feelings for Liam, why are you insisting I attend the dinner tomorrow?"

"Bothered?"

Xavier let out a short, hollow laugh. "Chloe, you think far too highly of yourself. I’m simply disgusted by the thought of a woman with hidden agendas lying in my bed. It’s revolting."

Without a shred of remorse for her pale face, he shoved her wrists away with visible loathing. "Now, take your things and get out."

Chloe’s pride, carefully maintained for years as the city's top socialite, was systematically dismantled by his words.

She snatched up her bag and the lunch containers, her eyes flashing with a spark of genuine anger. "Since you're so worried about who's lying next to you, fine. We’ll sleep in separate rooms from now on!"

As she walked out of the CEO's office, a thin veil of mist clouded her eyes. She kept a smile pinned to her face, even if it was a pained, crooked version of her usual self.

She felt pathetic. Just yesterday morning, she had actually convinced herself that Xavier's attitude was softening—that he didn't hate her quite so much. When she held his hand, he hadn't pulled away. She had been so full of confidence, planning how to earn his trust and recognition.

Now, she realized how naive she had been. Xavier’s intervention at the racetrack wasn't for her; it was for Liam Jr. It had nothing to do with her at all.

Upon returning to the Grayson estate, Chloe immediately packed her belongings and moved back into her original guest suite. It wasn't a petty tantrum; his "hidden agenda" comment had cut too deep to ignore.

Once settled, she buried herself in her business notes. She spent the entire afternoon studying alongside Liam Jr., the two of them sitting in a quiet, studious bubble until they both eventually drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, back at the Grayson Group headquarters, the atmosphere was suffocating. It felt as though a massive thundercloud was hovering over the entire corporation. Every employee was walking on eggshells, the air thick with a tension that made it hard to breathe.

The secretary responsible for delivering documents emerged from the President’s office drenched in a cold sweat. Her legs were shaking so violently she had to lean on her desk just to stay upright. By the end of the day, she was supposed to brief Xavier on the evening and tomorrow's schedule, but she didn't have the courage to step back inside. Tearing up, she turned to Felix for help.

Felix was the Chief Secretary and Project Director—Xavier’s right-hand man. He was tall, lean, and possessed a remarkably sharp, scholarly look. His most unique feature was his "elf-like" ears, which he could actually wiggle and fold at will.

Having just returned from a site visit, Felix was oblivious to the drama. "Calm down, Mina. Tell me what happened."

Mina wiped her eyes. "Miss Bishop came to deliver lunch at noon, and they seem to have had a massive fight. I’ve never seen the President this furious before."

Because Chloe’s identity as the President's wife hadn't been officially publicized, Mina chose her words carefully; office gossip about Xavier’s private life was a strictly forbidden zone.

Felix frowned, taking the itinerary from her. "I’ll handle it. Go back to your tasks."

Mina thanked him profusely, feeling as though she had just been granted a stay of execution.

Felix knocked and entered the office. Xavier sat motionless before his computer, looking identical to any other day, yet the sheer pressure in the room was bone-chilling. Felix was puzzled. Xavier was known for being an "Iron Mask" leader, but he was usually clinical and professional. He rarely brought personal emotions into the office.

Felix found it hard to believe Xavier's mood was because of a woman. In his experience, Xavier viewed women with a level of disdain that bordered on total indifference. How could Chloe Bishop possibly provoke such a visceral reaction?

Xavier is projecting a cold front that has the entire company in a panic, while Chloe has retreated to a separate bedroom to find her own independence. With the dinner with the Hans and Liam Martin looming tomorrow, will Xavier break the silence first, or will he let the frost between them turn into a permanent winter?

How do you think Felix will try to smooth things over with Xavier?