Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 10

**TITLE: Pushing the Edge 10**
**Chapter 10**

**Chapter 10**

It’s time to part ways with things that serve no purpose.

As I spoke, my tone flat and devoid of emotion, I noticed Zane’s brow furrow in confusion.

“You’ve always cherished that dress. Why the sudden urge to toss it aside?” he asked, incredulity lacing his voice.

I didn’t bother to refute him.

For three long years, that dress had occupied a place of honor in my walk-in closet, draped like a treasured artifact. Each year, I had sent it off for professional cleaning and meticulous preservation, treating it as a symbol of my belief that marriage was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Naturally, one would preserve the dress that marked such a significant occasion.

But now? We were on the brink of divorce.

The thought of holding onto this relic of a bygone era felt futile. It was time to embrace the future, however uncertain it might be. A bittersweet smile flickered across my lips as I recalled the moment of realization. “It’s ruined. Just the other day, I discovered the hem was torn.” Just like my fragile marriage to Zane, I thought.

*”It’s merely a tear. You can’t just dispose of it like that,” Zane countered, his disapproval evident. Suddenly animated, he proposed, “How about I take it to the bridal salon? They can restore it to its former glory…”*

“There’s no need,” I interjected, shaking my head firmly as I held his gaze. My voice was steady, unwavering. “Some things, once broken, cannot be mended.”

I wasn’t just referring to the dress.

Our words hung heavily in the air, a palpable tension settling between us. I turned and walked back into the house, needing to escape his scrutiny before he could formulate a response.

It was as if he had only just noticed the limp in my stride. He hurried after me, concern threading through his voice. “Are you still in pain? Why are you limping?”

“Still hurt? It’s been days—why are you limping?”

I didn’t bother to look back. “I stood in the snow at the Windsor estate for six hours last night.”

“Why?” His voice tightened, a hint of worry creeping in.

Finally, I faced him, allowing him to see the hollow truth reflected in my eyes. “Because you didn’t come back with me. It’s the price I pay for your absence, Zane. A little routine I’ve grown… quite accustomed to.”

**12:15**
**Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother**
**6.6%**

I lowered my gaze, embodying a fragile dignity. “I didn’t want to burden you. The Graysons still rely on the Windsors.” It was a perfectly crafted lie, designed to amplify his guilt.

And it worked. Pain flashed across his features, his voice barely a whisper as he said, “I’m sorry,” running a hand through my hair with an almost desperate tenderness. “Just name anything. A gift. I’ll get it for you.”

Here it comes, I thought, sensing the transactional band-aid he was offering to soothe his guilty conscience.

I let my voice soften into a devoted whisper. “I don’t need anything. I just hope you’ll appreciate the birthday present I got you.”

A genuine smile broke through my carefully constructed facade. It wasn’t for him; it was for the perfect trap I was setting. The sweet, sharp twist of guilt I caught in his eyes was the first sign that my plan was working.

“Elara…” he began, but his phone buzzed insistently. Mia.

He answered, his voice instantly shifting to one of urgent concern. “How did you twist your ankle?… I’m on my way.”

He stood there, visibly torn, glancing back and forth between me and the door, caught in the web of his choices.