Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 115

Chapter 115

Just a few years back, I tried to run. I picked a college out of state, hoping to get away.

But in the end, I was forced to stay in New York.

Margaret tied my whole damn life to this city. There was no escape.

Back then, I thought the only way things would ever change was… if Margaret died.

She’s hated me from the start. As long as she’s breathing, she’ll keep torturing me out of sheer spite.

I can play the obedient puppet on the surface. But my soul? It will never bow to her.

Im building my strength, brick by quiet brick. Changing things, little by little.

I will become the person I’m meant to be.

I will live the life I choose.

“By the way, Elara, I have an update on the Ethan investigation.”

“Oh?”

“You know how Ethan’s Instagram was hacked recently, unlocking some private posts? Well, look what I found.” Chloe pulled out her iPad, called up a few images, and sat with me on the sofa to look through them.

“This is…” I stared at the photos Ethan had taken. One showed the back of a girl in a white dress. Though half–obscured by other guests at the crowded, glittering event, the silhouette looked hauntingly familiar.

“Looks familiar, right?” Chloe winked at me.

“I have to admit… it does. But it doesn’t look like Amelia?”

“Of course not! Honestly, I suspect he and Amelia had a marriage of convenience. They might not have even slept together–just like you and that bastard Zane.” Chloe said this with utter conviction, her round brown eyes sparkling with excitement on her animated face.

“Seriously, darling, you’d make a great detective,” I blurted out without thinking.

“Wow, how did you know my childhood dream?”

Chloe laughed, throwing an arm around my neck.

“Being a lawyer wasn’t my first choice! I always wanted to be a great sleuth like Sherlock Holmes. So, thank you, my bestie, for giving me a chance to live out that fantasy!”

“You’re the one helping me.”

“Girls help girls! We lift each other up!” Chloe said cheerfully. “Okay, back on track. You must recognize this silhouette even more than I do, honey, That silhouette–is you!”

“Me?” I looked more closely at the photo. Okay, it really was me.

“See? I told you Ethan had a thing for you. That’s why Amelia is so jealous–because her husband loved you, not her. What do you think of this bold theory?” Chloe stared at me, her eyes shining brightly.

“…” I fell silent, my feelings complicated. “If that’s true, it’s just… ridiculously dramatic.”

10-20

Te Dilliensive Drother

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Chapter 115

“Alright, I’ll keep digging. Also, there’s one more thing. It’s just a rumor for now, no solid proof, but they say Amelia only received a small portion of Ethan’s inheritance

She’s apparently furious and trying to get more–but it’s not easy.” Chloe shrugged.

“Well, that’s not our problem. But even if she can’t get Ethan’s money, Zane will give her more than enough to spend.” I was quite sure of that.

It was getting late, so we called it a night. After chatting with Chloe, my mind was distracted, and I actually managed to fall asleep quickly.

My sleep was a chaotic jumble of dreams. First, it was raining gold coins from the sky, and Chloe and I were laughing hysterically, holding out a cloth bag to catch them. Chloe was even yelling at me to hold it at a better angle to get more…

Then the scene shifted to a college ice hockey game. There stood Ethan and Gavin, looking so devastatingly handsome they practically stopped hearts across the stands. All the girls were swooning. And then both of them started walking toward me. “Elara,” they said, “get us some water, thanks.”

And what did I do? I unscrewed the cap of the water bottle in my hand and took a long drink myself, suddenly realizing I was parched…

Well, that whole bizarre, electrifying rollercoaster was cut short by the sudden, jarring ring of my phone. I fumbled a hand out from under the warm comforter and grabbed it, the images of Ethan and Gavin–both stupidly, similarly handsome–still swirling in my head.

That’s when the caller ID splashed across the screen, hitting me like a bucket of ice water.

4 AM. The sky outside was still pitch black. The world was utterly silent.

But thanks to that relentlessly blaring ringtone, I was now completely, utterly wide awake.