Betrayed By The Billionaire

42

The temperature in Xavier’s master suite dropped to sub-zero as he paced the floor. The image of that black lace lingerie and the curve of Chloe’s silhouette refused to leave his mind, swirling together in a way that left him deeply agitated.

That woman... How dare she bring such provocative filth into his home? Was she actively seeking her own destruction?

His fury was layered. In just twenty-four hours, Chloe had managed to "buy" the loyalty of both Liam Jr. and the Old Madam—a feat dozens of elite socialites had failed to achieve for years. Even more irritating was the fact that Nanny White, a woman of iron discipline, had started defending her.

Xavier remembered how much effort, patience, and cold calculation it had taken for him to get Liam Jr. to even tolerate his presence. Seeing Chloe breeze in and win the boy's heart felt like a personal affront to his ego.

He snapped on the large LCD monitor on his wall. The live feed showed the nursery. Liam Jr. was still in a deep sleep, but the frame now included a slender, delicate figure.

Chloe had just stepped out of the shower. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, carefully applying soothing ointment to her arms. Despite a day in the scorching sun, her skin remained porcelain-pale compared to any ordinary woman. She was wearing silk lounge shorts, her long, snowy legs swaying slightly as she worked.

Xavier stared at the screen, his gaze so icy it felt as if he were trying to freeze her through the pixels.

Just as she set the ointment down, her phone buzzed. Chloe stole a glance at the sleeping boy before hurrying out onto the balcony to answer. "Mom?"

In the master suite, Xavier immediately reached for his encrypted earpiece.

Last night, while Chloe slept, he had his tech team remotely install a high-level monitoring patch on her phone. Every call, every text, and every GPS coordinate was mirrored to his private server in real-time. To Xavier, trust was a fairy tale; surveillance was reality.

"Chloe, did you sleep well last night?" Mrs. Bishop’s voice crackled through the earpiece.

"Yes... quite well," Chloe whispered. It was, ironically, the most restful night she’d had since the wedding disaster.

"That’s good. You’ve always been a light sleeper in new places. I was worried." Mrs. Bishop paused, her tone turning solemn. "You left so quickly last night, I didn't get to tell you everything I wanted."

"You’ve always been loyal to a fault, Chloe. Once you set your mind on someone, you never look back. But since you’ve chosen Xavier, you must fulfill your duties as a wife. Honor the Old Madam, care for Xavier and his son, and... let go of the people and things you shouldn't be thinking about anymore."

Chloe’s thumb absentmindedly stroked a leaf on a balcony plant. She knew her mother was talking about Liam Martin.

"I know, Mom," Chloe said softly. "Since I’ve married Xavier, I won't harbor any thoughts I shouldn't."

Hearing this through the earpiece, the tension in Xavier’s jaw relaxed ever so slightly.

"I saw him briefly," Mrs. Bishop continued. "He’s a man of striking presence and talent. Despite the terrible things people say about him, every man has his virtues. Since you are legally husband and wife, I hope you can live well together. I hope you find love and grow old together."

Chloe felt a lump form in her throat. Every mother wants the best for her child, but "growing old in love" with a man as cold and volatile as Xavier felt like a fantasy. She would be grateful if they could simply achieve mutual respect.

"I’ll remember your words, Mom. I’ll try to make it work."

Not out of passion, Chloe thought, but out of duty.

"Also, since you've registered the marriage, you really ought to have a wedding ceremony..."

"Mom, I was actually about to mention that," Chloe interrupted, her voice gaining a sharp edge of urgency. "Xavier and I have decided not to have a wedding. If the Old Madam calls you about it, you must decline. Use any excuse you have to—just make sure you turn it down. Do you understand?"

"Why?" Mrs. Bishop sounded bewildered. "Every girl wants a wedding, and after what happened with the Martins, a grand Grayson wedding would restore your reputation instantly!"