Betrayed By The Billionaire

44

Chloe finally felt it was safe to pull Liam Jr. into a hug. She patted his back rhythmically, her voice a steady anchor. "It’s okay. I’m not leaving. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here with you..."

After a long while, the little boy’s breathing evened out, and he finally calmed down completely.

Relieved, Chloe pulled back and sat him on his small stool. She looked at him with a feigned expression of hurt. "Liam Jr., you startled me just now. I was so scared. Can you promise me you’ll try not to lose your temper like that again?"

Liam Jr. looked at her, remembering how she had jumped when he smashed the model. His small face clouded over with guilt, and he slowly hung his head.

Chloe took his small, reddened hand in hers, thankful he hadn't cut himself. "I'm not scolding you, honey. I’m just worried you'll hurt yourself. I get angry sometimes, too. I feel like throwing things sometimes, but I try my best to stay calm because it’s a hard habit to break once you start."

The boy looked at her, processing her words with a look of budding understanding.

"If you really can't hold it in," Chloe whispered, "just shout it out, okay? Let it out with your voice instead of your hands."

Liam Jr. stared at her, seemingly lost in thought for a long moment, before he finally gave a small, firm nod.

Chloe was overjoyed. As a reward, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

For the rest of the evening, she didn't dare mention going outside again.

Xavier returned very late that night. Once Liam Jr. was asleep, he followed his usual routine of checking the digital archives to see how the boy’s day had gone.

When he saw the footage of Liam Jr. actually struggling to suppress his rage—and succeeding—Xavier was stunned. This was the first time the boy had ever attempted to self-regulate.

And when he saw the boy silently agree to Chloe’s request to control his temper, Xavier’s shock deepened.

His gaze lingered on Chloe’s face on the screen. Her expression was the definition of tenderness, her eyes bright like starlight, her voice a soothing melody. There was a quiet, peaceful magic about her that seemed to neutralize the chaos in the room.

Knock, knock.

"Xavier? Can I come in?"

Chloe’s voice drifted through the door, pulling him back to reality.

Xavier’s deep eyes fixed on the door handle. He stood up, his long strides carrying him to the door in seconds. He swung it open.

Chloe froze. They were standing so close she was looking directly at his collarbone. A scent—masculine, clean, and unfamiliar—brushed against her nose. For a fleeting second, it felt as though they were lovers about to embrace.

She immediately took a hasty step back, putting distance between them to avoid annoying him.

Xavier looked down at her, his eyes performing a slow, clinical sweep. Chloe had just bathed; she was wearing a conservative set of pajamas, her long hair tied up to reveal the elegant curve of her neck.

Below her silk trousers, her feet were bare in flip-flops. Her toes were small and rounded, her nails neatly trimmed with a healthy pink glow. They looked almost... cute.

Xavier’s voice was as flat as a desert floor. "Is something wrong?"

Chloe noticed him staring at her feet and instinctively curled her toes. "I wanted to talk to you about Liam Jr."

For the first time, Chloe felt that her height of 168cm was tiny. She had to crane her neck just to meet his eyes.

Xavier’s gaze traveled from her toes back up to her face. After a few beats of silence, he turned and walked back into the suite. "Come in."

Chloe followed him into the master bedroom. It was exactly like the man himself: shades of grey and white, minimalist yet imposing, cold and ascetic.

Xavier pushed open the door to his private study and stepped inside. When he realized Chloe hadn't followed, he called out, "Chloe Bishop."

She was hovering at the threshold. Hearing her name, she finally stepped into the study.

Xavier pulled a leather-bound notebook from the shelf and tossed it toward her. "Take this and read it carefully."

"What is it?"