Betrayed By The Billionaire

21

On the other side of the line, Liam glanced at the woman on the bed. After a heavy silence, he finally relented.

Shortly after he stepped out, the woman on the bed opened her eyes, her gaze sharp and cold.

Across the lawn, Chloe saw Liam’s silhouette emerge from the villa. She pushed open the car door and stepped out, the cool night air catching her lavender silk. They stood several yards apart, locked in a distant gaze, a vast, invisible chasm separating them.

Tonight, Chloe was radiant—a perfect blend of high-society elegance and youthful purity. She was breathtaking, and Liam had always known it, but now his eyes were a fortress that only held room for Sara.

“Speak,” Liam said. He looked at her with that same refined, "gentlemanly" mask, but the warmth and indulgence that had defined their last six years were gone.

Chloe struggled to find the words. The weight of her secret felt like lead in her throat. After a long pause, she finally spoke. "I just came from the Gray—"

"Aaaaah!"

A sharp cry of pain cut Chloe off. It was Sara. She had fallen to the floor just inside the glass doors.

Chloe watched as a flash of pure panic streaked across Liam’s face. He pivoted instantly, sprinting toward Sara. "Why did you come down? Let me see where you're hurt!"

Sara’s eyes were rimmed with red, her small face pale with terror. "I woke up and you weren't there... I was scared. Promise me, Liam. Promise me you’ll never leave me again."

Liam gathered her into his arms, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. His voice was thick with devotion. "I promise. I’m here."

He lifted her effortlessly, turning to carry her back inside. He had nearly crossed the threshold before he remembered Chloe was still standing in the dark.

"Liam!"

He paused but didn't turn around. As he shifted, Sara’s small hands gripped his lapels tight, her features contorted in a pathetic display of agony. "Liam... it hurts so much."

Liam’s last shred of patience snapped. He threw a glance over his shoulder at Chloe, his voice biting and annoyed. "What is it? What exactly are you trying to say?"

Chloe’s lips, now devoid of color, trembled. Then, she let out a sudden, hollow laugh.

"Nothing. I just came to give you a heads-up. I’m getting married. Tomorrow."

Liam went rigid for a heartbeat, then he let out a dismissive, airy chuckle. "Is that so? Congratulations."

He didn't believe her. To him, this was just another desperate ploy from a woman who couldn't let go. He steeled his heart; he couldn't afford to be soft, or she would never stop clinging to him. Ignoring the strange, hollow ache in his chest, he carried Sara inside without looking back.

Congratulations. Congratulations.

Chloe turned back to the car where Justin sat watching. Her voice sounded like someone whose soul had already departed. "Did you hear that? He told me 'congratulations'."

Justin’s heart broke for her. He instantly regretted bringing her here. "Maybe he didn't hear you clearly. Or maybe he thinks you're joking."

A tear escaped and traced a path down Chloe’s cheek. She offered a tragic, self-mocking smile. "Is that what we're going with? How much longer do I have to lie to myself, Justin?"

At 11:26 PM, Chloe received a call from the estate. Lily had been returned. Aside from a few small bruises, the infant was unharmed.

The moment she stepped out of the car, the nanny hurried forward with the sleeping baby. Looking at her sister’s peaceful face, the crushing weight that had sat on Chloe’s chest for days finally lifted.

She spent the rest of the night in a blur of activity. By the time she finally lay down, Justin had long since departed. She was exhausted to the bone, yet sleep remained a stranger.

When the sun rose, she would officially be Xavier Grayson’s wife.

She checked on her mother, who was finally sleeping soundly. Chloe adjusted the blanket, her gaze softening as she looked at the two of them. I made the right choice, she thought. As long as they are safe, I can handle anything.

At dawn, Chloe finished dressing and headed downstairs. Nanny Cook had prepared a bowl of noodles for her, hovering nearby with an anxious expression.

Chloe managed a few bites before looking up. "Whatever it is, say it. I have to leave soon."

The maid hesitated. "A package arrived yesterday. It was sent from abroad. We... we didn't know how to handle it."

"Bring it here," Chloe said.

A moment later, Chloe stared at the contents of the box, the blood draining from her face. A storm of conflicting emotions surged behind her eyes.

It was the custom prosthetic limb she had commissioned for Liam a month ago. She had traveled halfway across the world to find the best engineers to design it specifically for him.

Seeing it now, the fortress she had built around her heart began to crumble. Her logic, her resolve, and her dignity were being eroded by six years of memories.

She stood up abruptly and bolted for the door.

She didn't care about the gala, the contract, or the consequences. She had to see him. She had promised him she would never leave his side, and she needed him to know that she had never forgotten that vow. Everyone told her he was just confused—that he would come back. What if he turned around one day to find her gone?

Chloe threw the package into her car and sped off.

Her mind was a projector, playing every moment they had shared. She remembered not long ago when she had sprained her ankle in heels. Liam, despite his own prosthetic, had carried her on his back for miles, the friction of the walk rubbing his own limb raw until he bled. He had never complained once.

She had to see him. Just one last time.