Betrayed By The Billionaire

17

Wherever there are too many women gathered, there will always be a few who lack basic grace.

"Why is she still here? How does she have the face to stay?"

"This Chloe Bishop is something else. If I were her, being talked about like that, I’d have run away crying ages ago. She clearly has no shame."

But their petty jabs were like stones thrown into a deep lake—they didn't even ripple Chloe’s composure.

As Chloe approached the center of the room, several socialites physically recoiled as if trying to avoid being contaminated by something "dirty." They whispered behind their fans, their eyes filled with disgust.

Their withdrawal created a natural, wide path directly leading to Madam Grayson.

Chloe had already gathered her frayed emotions, burying them deep under a layer of regal poise. She stopped before the elderly woman and offered an elegant, graceful smile. "Madam Grayson, I am Chloe Bishop, the eldest daughter of the Bishop family. I hope my presence hasn't disturbed your evening."

Madam Grayson studied her with a sharp, discerning gaze. Her expression was unreadable, though her tone remained polite. "If I recall correctly, Miss Bishop, your name wasn't exactly on tonight's guest list."

A collective gasp went through the hall. Chloe was an uninvited guest.

It was a staggering fall from grace. When Chloe was born, the famous fortune teller Master Tyson had declared her a "vessel of fortune"—someone who would bring immense prosperity to her family and any man she married. For years, the Bishop family’s skyrocketing success seemed to prove him right. Chloe had been the city’s crown jewel, and even her ex-fiancé, Liam Martin, had risen from a discarded cripple to a powerful CEO while by her side.

But now? Liam had jilted her. Her father was in a coma. The "IT Girl" had become the city's biggest joke. It seemed Master Tyson’s prophecy was nothing more than a series of lucky coincidences. After all, if she were truly a "vessel of fortune," why would Liam discard her?

Maya let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Coming to a matchmaking gala uninvited? Our 'Top Socialite' has really lost her dignity. How desperate can you be?"

Yasmine, standing next to Nadia, chimed in, "I guess since Liam doesn't want her anymore, she’s in a hurry to find a replacement."

The words weren't just insults; they were poisonous barbs meant to ruin her standing with the elders.

"Yasmine, stop that nonsense," Nadia cut in, her voice firm and disapproving.

That single act of "scolding" her friend won Nadia several looks of approval from the nearby matrons. It made her look like the bigger person.

Luckily, Madam Grayson was a seasoned woman who wasn't easily swayed by the bickering of girls. She ignored the noise and looked Chloe in the eye. "And tell me, Miss Bishop, what is the purpose of your visit today?"

Chloe met her gaze without blinking. "I am here for your grandson, Xavier."

The room went dead silent. Everyone was stunned. No one expected Chloe to be so bold, so direct.

Madam Grayson looked at the young woman before her. She was undeniably beautiful, but it was her eyes that caught the elder's attention—they were clear, steady, and devoid of the fawning desperation seen in the other girls. Despite the vicious insults being hurled at her, Chloe hadn't flinched or even acknowledged her attackers. That kind of mental fortitude in someone so young was rare.

Madam Grayson suddenly let out a chuckle. "I’m afraid I don't have the final say in that matter. However, Xavier dotes on Liam Jr. more than anyone. If you can make the boy smile, perhaps Xavier will see you in a different light."

Nadia almost laughed out loud. The boy was an autistic "statue" who recoiled from every stranger. Chloe could spend a hundred years trying to coax a smile out of him and she would fail.

The guests whispered that the old lady was simply giving Chloe a polite way to fail. After all, Maya had just been hit with a cupcake for trying the same thing.

Chloe turned her attention to the "little puppy."

The boy was staring at her with his massive, dark eyes. They sparkled like black diamonds under the chandeliers. Chloe’s expression softened instantly, her maternal instincts overriding her stress. "Hello again, little one. We meet again."

The boy didn't move. He didn't even blink.

Chloe offered a small, warm smile and reached out her arms. "Would you let me hold you?"

The socialites sneered. Ava had already tried to win him over with her famous "gentle charm" and failed miserably. Beauty meant nothing to this child. They waited, ready to watch Chloe get rejected—or better yet, attacked.

But then, the impossible happened.

The icy, silent little boy actually reached out his small, pale arms toward Chloe.

The shock in the room was palpable. Even Madam Grayson stood frozen. Liam Jr. never—never—let strangers touch him. This was a first.

Chloe pulled the soft, warm child into her arms. He smelled faintly of baby powder and expensive soap. She couldn't help herself; she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his plump cheek.

The boy’s eyes went wide. His tiny mouth twitched. Then, his lips curved upward—first a little, then a full, shy smile.

He smiled. He actually smiled.

Chloe beamed back at him, her joy making her look even more radiant. The sight was breathtaking.

Madam Grayson’s eyes narrowed, but this time, the look was one of genuine intrigue and appreciation.

Seeing an opening, Nadia stepped forward, a practiced, sweet smile on her face. "Oh, Liam Jr. is just too precious. I can't help myself either. May I hold him for a moment?"

The "little puppy" gave Nadia a cold, sideways glance and immediately buried his face in the crook of Chloe’s neck.

Nadia’s smile faltered. She quickly covered it up by laughing. "My, he really does seem to have a preference for you, Chloe!"

Chloe’s gaze swept over Nadia’s fake warmth with total indifference. "I suppose he’s just very... discerning."

The word "discerning" was a subtle slap to Nadia’s face.

Madam Grayson looked more satisfied by the second. She turned to a nearby servant. "Go and fetch Miss Bishop’s birth chart from the records."

In River City, the old-money families were deeply traditional. They believed in fate, horoscopes, and "Bazi." By asking for Chloe’s chart, the old lady was signaling her approval. If the numbers aligned, Chloe would have a legitimate shot at Xavier.

Ava looked at Chloe, her feelings a tangled mess of jealousy and grudging respect. This woman is dangerous, she realized.

Nadia, meanwhile, was panicking. If Chloe secured Xavier’s backing, her father’s plan to swallow the Bishop Group would be dead in the water. Her brother had spent the night trying to trash Chloe’s reputation specifically to prevent this.

She couldn't let this happen.

Madam Grayson ignored the shifting moods of the crowd and looked toward the back of the hall. "Xavier," she called out. "Come over here."