Betrayed By The Billionaire

45

Chloe opened the notebook, and her eyes were immediately met with pages of bold, powerful handwriting. The strokes were forceful and elegant, each line meticulously recording Liam Jr.’s likes, dislikes, and specific triggers.

For Chloe, this was an unexpected treasure trove of information. A small, sincere smile tugged at her lips. "Did you write this?"

The handwriting possessed a certain "regal" strength; its owner was clearly someone with a soaring spirit and a will to look down upon the world. Xavier didn't answer, but Chloe was certain it was his. Only a father who truly cared for his child would be so exhaustive in his observations.

Mom was right, Chloe thought. No matter how cold or ruthless Xavier is, he has his virtues. At the very least, he’s a dedicated father.

Xavier watched her expression, his voice dropping to a flat, detached tone. "Liam Jr. is terrified of blood—keep that in mind. Beyond that, he has one major taboo: water. Keep him away from rivers, lakes, and swimming pools. Don't let him get close to them."

He’s afraid of water? Chloe suddenly thought back to the afternoon. Was that why he had reacted so violently when she suggested going out to the lake?

"If he's that afraid, why don't you just fill in the lake outside?" Chloe asked. While it would be a shame to lose such a beautiful feature, surely nothing was more important to Xavier than his son’s peace of mind. For a man of his power, it would take nothing more than a single phone call.

Xavier’s expression remained resolute, almost harsh. "He has to learn to overcome it eventually. He can't spend his entire life hiding in a protective shell."

Chloe had to admit he had a point. You can't spend your life running from everything that scares you. "Understood. Then I'll go..." She glanced toward the door, taking the hint to leave.

Ignoring her polite exit cue, Xavier issued a command as if she were a servant. "Go to the kitchen and bring some food in here."

He suddenly felt a sharp discomfort in his stomach. It was late, he hadn't eaten, and the hunger was beginning to bite.

Chloe nodded readily. "Alright."

She set the notebook down and hurried out. It took nearly twenty minutes before she returned, carrying a steaming bowl of noodles.

Xavier looked at her with displeasure, his voice cold. "What took you so long?"

Chloe placed the bowl in front of him. A savory, fresh aroma wafted up, and the vibrant colors of the dish were enough to stir anyone's appetite. Still, Xavier was irritated. Had she made him wait on purpose because she was unhappy with his attitude? Or was she so dim-witted that she had actually gotten lost in his own house? If it was the latter, he wondered if he should crack open her skull just to see what kind of nonsense was inside.

"The kitchen was empty, and I didn't know what you liked," Chloe explained patiently. "So I just made you a bowl of egg and beef noodles."

The kitchen was empty? Xavier knew that was impossible. Because his and his son's meal times were so erratic, the main kitchen was staffed 24/7 with chefs on rotating shifts, always keeping prepared food ready.

However, looking at the familiar ingredients in the bowl, Xavier realized exactly what had happened. There were multiple kitchens in the sprawling Grayson estate, and Chloe had blundered into his private kitchenette. Those ingredients were from his personal fridge.

Xavier was notoriously picky about his food; when he had a rare moment of free time, he preferred to cook simple, home-style meals for himself in that small space. But he had been so busy lately that he hadn't stepped foot in there for weeks.