Betrayed By The Billionaire

51

When Liam Martin returned to the suite, Sara was already awake.

He sat beside her, looking at her delicate face with doting eyes as he ruffled her hair. "You worked so hard last night. Thank you."

Sara gave him a shy smile. "It was nothing. We’ve survived much harder times together than a restless night. What's a little bit of hardship compared to that?"

Liam’s heart tightened with guilt. He remembered the car accident years ago—Sara had lost her father, and he had lost both of his parents and suffered a shattered leg. Those days were a dark, agonizing blur. If she hadn't been there, he might never have found his way back from that despair. He looked at her frail frame and wondered, not for the first time, how such a tiny girl had managed to carry him through it all back then.

"Liam," Sara said, her expression turning serious. "I have a confession to make."

Looking at her solemn little face, Liam felt a chuckle bubble up. "Go ahead."

"I... I used your phone to call Chloe last night."

The faint smile on Liam’s face froze. The warmth vanished instantly. "Why would you call her?"

"I'm sorry! I saw you in so much pain and I was so worried, but I didn't know how to help you. I thought... since she was with you for so long, she would know a way." Sara looked like a child caught in a mistake, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Please don't be angry, Liam. I really didn't know your relationship had turned so sour. It's all because of me..."

Liam’s gaze turned cold. "What do you mean? Did Chloe say something to you?" He knew Chloe’s pride; he assumed Sara must have been bullied.

Sara shook her head, biting her lip hesitantly.

"Did she insult you?"

"No, she didn't." Sara hurried to explain, recounting Chloe’s "advice"—the suggestion to pour high-proof alcohol down his throat—exactly as it had been said.

Liam’s expression became complicated. In the past, Chloe was the one most concerned about his health. Whenever he was sick, she would run herself ragged caring for him, looking as though she’d rather suffer the pain herself. Because of his alcohol allergy, she had been strictly against him drinking.

But in business, a drink was often unavoidable. Whenever he came home covered in hives, she would scold him fiercely while staying up all night to nurse him.

Hearing now how Chloe had utterly dismissed his suffering, leaving him to rot in his agony, a sharp wave of bitterness washed over him.

He took Sara’s hand. "Don't ever call her again. If you're unsure about something, ask your brother or my security team."

Sara nodded obediently. "Okay."

That afternoon, Liam visited the Han-Shin Group, again leaving Sara behind at the hotel.

Director Han and his wife were visibly disappointed by Chloe's absence. They insisted that when they visited River City in a few weeks, Liam must bring Chloe along to host them. Liam didn't correct them or mention the breakup; he simply promised he would personally handle their entire itinerary.

Stepping out of the Han-Shin headquarters, Liam looked up at the vibrant sky, a smug curve touching his lips. Finalizing this deal was a massive milestone for the Martin Group. His future was now paved with gold, smooth and unstoppable.

For years, he had lived under the shadow of the Bishop family, practically living in their home. Though he wasn't officially a "son-in-law" who married into the family, there was little difference. On the other side, he had endured humiliation and sneers from the Martin clan, biding his time and hiding his light.

Now, no one would dare look down on him again. No one could stop his ascent.

Yet, in this moment of peak triumph, his thoughts suddenly drifted back to Chloe Bishop.