Betrayed By The Billionaire

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The atmosphere in the grand ballroom felt increasingly heavy, the glittering chandeliers casting a cold glow over the drama unfolding beneath them. Xavier Grayson stood like a frozen statue, his gaze locked on his wife. It seems yesterday’s lesson wasn't enough to make her remember who she belongs to, he thought, the dark possessiveness in his eyes intensifying.

Chloe had just finished adding Donovan Tang as a contact when she felt a persistent tug at her hem. Liam Jr. was looking up at her, his small face scrunched in a mixture of irritation and abandonment. He looked so small and protective that Chloe’s heart melted.

As she bent down to scoop him into her arms, the world suddenly tilted. A wave of vertigo crashed over her, making her body sway precariously. Donovan was faster than a predator; he caught her by the shoulders before she could fall, his brow furrowing in immediate concern. "What’s wrong? Chloe?"

Liam Jr. gripped her hand tightly, his wide eyes full of silent fear.

Chloe felt a dull throb behind her eyes—the heat and the strain had clearly triggered a relapse of her fever. She needed to get home before she collapsed in public. Regaining her balance, she gently stepped out of Donovan’s hold, putting a respectful distance between them.

"I'm fine," she lied, forcing a weak smile for both Donovan and Old Mrs. Tang. "I've just been a bit anaemic lately. The crowd is making me a little lightheaded." She turned to the matriarch, squeezing her hand. "Grandma Tang, I’m feeling a bit unwell, so I should head back. I’ll come to visit you properly in a few days."

Old Mrs. Tang looked disappointed but patted her hand understandingly. Donovan, however, wasn't so easily convinced. "You look pale. I’ll drive you home myself."

Chloe caught Xavier’s gaze from across the room. Even from thirty yards away, the intensity of his stare was enough to make her skin crawl. "No need, Donovan. I brought a driver. Stay and enjoy the celebration with your grandmother."

With a polite nod to the guests, Chloe picked up Liam Jr. and began making her way toward the exit. She walked with her head held high, looking straight ahead, completely ignoring Xavier and Yvonne Blue as if they were nothing more than decorative statues.

Donovan Tang watched her retreating back, the cold military mask returning to his handsome features. The lingering scent of her perfume—a subtle, floral sweetness—seemed to hang in the air around him. He shifted his gaze to Xavier’s frigid face and offered a sharp, mocking tilt of his head.

Xavier didn't return the gesture. His aura was lethal, a silent promise of retribution.

The exchange didn't go unnoticed. Liam Martin, standing in the shadows with a glass of red wine, drained the liquid in one go. He leaned toward the man standing behind his wheelchair. "Investigate Donovan Tang. Everything. And be careful—don't let his people catch you."

Donovan was the crown jewel of the Tang family, a man whose lineage and power were unmatched in the city. Though he was a soldier by trade, his rebellious nature was legendary; he was a man who had walked away from a guaranteed path to the top of the military to forge his own way in the shadows. To those who truly knew him, he was every bit as terrifying as the "Demon CEO" himself.

Yvonne Blue watched Chloe leave, a flicker of feigned sadness crossing her delicate face. She leaned toward Xavier, her voice like silk. "It seems Liam Jr. is incredibly fond of Chloe."

Xavier offered no response. His jaw was set, his silence more terrifying than any verbal outburst.

Chloe felt her vision blurring, her footsteps becoming heavier with every yard. She clutched Liam Jr. to her chest, her only thought being to reach the Ferrari and get home. But as she rounded the corner toward the less-crowded foyer, a group of women blocked her path.

"Chloe, leaving so soon? You just got here!"

Leading the group was Feifei, flanked by a veritable gallery of Chloe’s most dedicated rivals: Yumie, Giselle, Bella, and Serena. They stood in a semi-circle, their expensive gowns and polished smiles masking a collective malice.

Chloe felt a wave of genuine nausea. Between the fever and this sudden influx of "Green Teas and White Lotuses," her headache had doubled in intensity. She adjusted her grip on the boy in her arms and looked at them with icy disdain.

"Move," she said, her voice dropping into a dangerous, low register. "I’m not in the mood for your games today."

The Ambush at the Foyer

The women have cornered Chloe in a secluded part of the estate, away from the watchful eyes of the elders. They see her paleness not as illness, but as a sign of her "defeat" in the face of Xavier’s public betrayal with Yvonne Blue.

Feifei and her circle are ready to tear into Chloe’s pride while she is at her weakest. With Liam Jr. as a witness and her body failing her, how will Chloe defend her dignity against a room full of women who have been waiting years for her to fall? Will Vince intervene, or will a surprise defender appear from the shadows?

What do you think Feifei's first "insult" will be to get under Chloe's skin?