Betrayed By The Billionaire

185

The moment Liam Jr. saw Chloe, he gravitated toward her side, his small hand gently tugging at the fabric of her evening gown. His dark, clear eyes looked up at her with an expression of pure, silent longing.

Chloe reached down and ruffled his neatly styled hair, a soft smile playing on her lips. "I’m going to a birthday banquet for an elderly lady, Liam Jr. Would you like to come along with me?"

Without a second of hesitation, the boy nodded. He quickly grabbed his writing tablet and scribbled a sentence in bold strokes: Chloe is sick. Liam Jr. will protect Chloe.

Chloe realized then that while she was applying her makeup earlier, the little guy had peeked in, seen her getting ready, and dashed off to change into his tiny formal suit. He had known she was going out and was determined to be her little knight. How could she possibly refuse such a heartwarming offer?

"Then we shall go together," Chloe said, her voice tender. "The lady will be very happy to see such a handsome young gentleman."

Chloe thought back to the kind elderly woman. During Liam Jr.’s birthday party, when the rival socialites had tried to smear Chloe’s reputation, this woman had stepped forward to speak in her defense before being interrupted by the Grayson Matriarch. This was Old Mrs. Tang, the grandmother of Donovan Tang.

Deciding to take the wheel herself tonight, Chloe headed to the garage and selected a vibrant red Ferrari. With Liam Jr. buckled into the passenger seat, they swept out of the Grayson Estate. Within minutes, Chloe noticed a familiar vehicle trailing them at a respectful distance. She knew it was Vince, her assigned bodyguard, and the realization brought her a rare sense of security.

The Tang Estate: A den of Power and Secrets

On the third floor of the Tang mansion, inside the master suite, a tall man stood silhouetted against the floor-to-ceiling windows. He looked down at the glittering garden party below, watching the shifting sea of guests. He took a long, slow drag from the cigarette held between his fingers, his eyes narrowed in calculation.

The room was already hazy with smoke. Under the amber glow of the chandelier, the man’s profile was a masterpiece of rugged perfection—sharply defined and dangerously handsome. There was an air of untamable rebellion about him, a wild arrogance laced with a touch of lethal darkness that made him both terrifying and irresistible.

This was Donovan Tang, the man who had vanished abruptly after a cryptic phone call just nights before. He lifted his phone to his ear, listened to a brief report from the other end, and ended the call without a word. He crushed out his cigarette and disappeared into the bathroom. When he emerged minutes later, he had changed his clothes, and every trace of nicotine had been washed away.

The Tang family was a pillar of the city’s elite. Old Mrs. Tang had two sons: the eldest, Arthur Tang, held a high-ranking political office, while the second, Marcus Tang, was a titan of industry. Donovan was Arthur’s son and the eldest grandson of the lineage. To maintain a professional distance from the festivities, Arthur Tang had opted not to attend, leaving the social spotlight to his mother and brother.

The Entrance of the "First Socialite"

Chloe arrived late, and the ballroom was already crowded with the city's most prominent figures. As she stepped through the arched doorway with Liam Jr. by her side, the room seemed to experience a collective intake of breath.

Tonight, Chloe wore a stunning white gown with a sophisticated mermaid silhouette that accentuated her graceful curves. The high collar and long sleeves were a masterpiece of design, but only she knew they were a shield for the marks beneath. Around her neck sat a delicate platinum and diamond necklace, adding a touch of ethereal brilliance to her appearance. She looked radiant, spirited, yet untouchably cold.

The men in the room found it impossible to look away, while the reactions from the women were far more complex—a toxic cocktail of envy, jealousy, and deep-seated insecurity. Every time Chloe Bishop appeared, she effectively eclipsed every other woman in the room. Over the years, the socialites of the city had learned to keep their distance, their resentment festering into a silent war.

Tonight, however, many of those looks were tinged with mockery and disdain. They whispered behind their fans, waiting for the "fallen" socialite to stumble, eager to see her pride crushed under the weight of her new marriage.

Chloe was used to the scrutiny. She ignored the muffled jeers, leading Liam Jr. toward the guest of honor. She spotted several familiar faces in the crowd but didn't stop until she reached the matriarch. "Happy Birthday, Grandma Tang."

Old Mrs. Tang looked radiant, her face flushed with joy as she chatted with several high-society wives. It was clear the other women were only there to curry favor, their eyes constantly darting toward the imposing figure of Donovan Tang standing just behind his grandmother.

"Chloe! Come here and let me get a good look at you," the old lady exclaimed, reaching out to grasp Chloe’s hand with genuine warmth. she studied Chloe’s face with a fond smile. "Oh, you just get more beautiful every time I see you. Look at that skin—so soft and clear. Xavier Grayson is a very lucky man indeed."

The reunion is warm, but the atmosphere in the ballroom is a powder keg. Donovan Tang is watching Chloe from just a few feet away, his gaze heavy with ten years of unspoken longing and the sharpness of a soldier who has returned for what is his. With Liam Jr. standing guard by her side, Chloe is at the center of a silent storm.

How do you think Donovan Tang will introduce himself to Xavier's son when they finally come face-to-face?