Betrayed By The Billionaire

186

Old Mrs. Tang couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy as she looked at the young woman before her. She was secretly glad that the Grayson Matriarch hadn’t shown up tonight; if she had, the old woman would be bragging so much her pride would hit the ceiling.

Chloe offered a perfectly poised, graceful smile. "I heard from my mother that back in the day, Grandma Tang was the true 'First Socialite.' They say you were so stunning you captivated Grandpa Tang with just a single glance."

The old lady’s laughter rang out, genuine and bright. "Oh, that was a lifetime ago! Now I’m just an old woman covered in wrinkles. There’s hardly a trace of that girl left."

Chloe chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling. "Grandma Tang, you’re far too modest. Look at you—your complexion is radiant and your features are so full of life. If someone said you were fifty, I’d tell them they were overestimating. Don't you all agree?"

The group of high-society wives surrounding them stiffened. This little flatterer! they thought collectively. However, they had no choice but to nod in frantic agreement, taking turns to praise the matriarch’s youthful appearance and skincare regime until the old lady was beaming.

Standing just a few feet away, Donovan Tang watched Chloe. He saw the elegant, refined woman she had become, yet he could still see the traces of the spirited, clever girl he had grown up with. A faint, involuntary smirk touched his lips. She hadn't changed at all. Even her way of charming the elderly was exactly as he remembered—utterly adorable.

As they conversed, Old Mrs. Tang found herself unable to let go of Chloe’s hand. Deep down, a profound sense of regret gnawed at her. When the Bishop family had faced their crisis, the Tangs had hesitated to step in, fearing the political optics of a high-ranking official's family bailing out a commercial titan. If they had acted just a few days sooner, Chloe might never have ended up bound to the Grayson family.

The bond between the Tangs and the Bishops had always been strong, but they had distanced themselves publicly to avoid the "sensitive" whispers regarding the intersection of politics and business. During the scandal of Liam Martin’s abandonment, the world’s eyes were on Chloe, and the Tangs stayed in the shadows. Now, looking at the vibrant woman before her, the matriarch sighed heavily.

"What is it, Grandma Tang?" Chloe asked, noticing the sudden shift in the old lady's mood.

It was then that Donovan stepped forward. His voice was a rich, magnetic baritone that commanded immediate attention. "If you want to know why my grandmother is sighing, Chloe, you only need to look over there."

He raised a steady hand and pointed toward the far end of the ballroom.

Chloe recognized Donovan instantly, her eyes widening with a brief flash of joy at seeing her old friend. But before she could even greet him, her gaze followed his finger—and her heart turned to lead.

There, standing in the center of a small circle of influential guests, was Xavier Grayson. He was a pillar of dark, cold elegance in his tailored black suit, his sharp features illuminated by the massive crystal chandeliers. He looked every bit the untouchable monarch of the business world.

But he wasn't alone.

Standing right beside him was Yvonne Blue. She was dressed in a sophisticated, form-fitting qipao that accentuated her lithe, swaying curves. She looked delicate and poised, leaning toward Xavier with an air of "little bird" intimacy that suggested they were a matched set.

Yvonne Blue. Again.

The realization hit Chloe like a physical blow. This was where Xavier had gone tonight. He hadn't just come to the banquet; he had arrived with Yvonne as his plus-one, presenting her to the high society of the city while his legal wife was left at home recovering from a near-fatal fever.

Chloe finally understood the looks she had received upon entering—the mockery, the disdain, the biting pity. To everyone in this room, she wasn't the powerful Mistress of the Grayson household; she was the humiliated wife whose husband preferred the company of his "assistant" even at the most prestigious events of the year.

The public humiliation is complete. Xavier is standing only thirty yards away with another woman, and Donovan Tang is watching Chloe's reaction with the cold precision of a soldier. Will Chloe maintain her "Socialite Mask" and ignore the pair, or will Donovan use this moment of Xavier's blatant disrespect to make his move and reclaim the woman he believes the Graysons have stolen?

How do you think Liam Jr. will react when he sees his father standing with Yvonne Blue instead of Chloe?