Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

“Yep. Unexpected, right?”

I threw my head back and drained my glass, the liquor burning my throat. “Didn’t see it coming either.”

No sooner had I spoken than the woman rose on her toes and kissed him.

Zane’s arm tightened around her waist in response.

A perfect match. They looked so damn good together.

“Probably not coming home tonight, huh?” I muttered to myself.

The crowd around them cheered even louder.

Chloe shot to her feet, but I grabbed her wrist. “Don’t go over there.”

“I’m not stupid,” she scoffed, quickly snapping a few photos with her phone. She pulled me up. “I know you’ve got your plans, but this place is disgusting. Let’s get out of here.”

I’ve never been able to hold my liquor well. I didn’t wake up until well past noon the next day, my head pounding, my eyelids swollen and heavy.

When I saw the balance in my banking app, I thought I was still dreaming.

Six million.

I rubbed my eyes and looked again. The transfer was from Amelia. Slowly, the foggy memories from last night started to trickle back.

-She actually paid up.

Looked like Amelia was truly terrified of Margaret.

Then again, judging by how cozy those two were last night, the money had probably come from Zane’s pocket anyway.

Feeling a grim sense of satisfaction, I took my phone downstairs and made myself a glass of honey water.

Mary saw my pale complexion and asked with concern, “Would you like something to eat, ma’am?”

The seasonal menus were usually something I planned out for myself and Zane. But right now, my stomach was churning. “Just make something simple,” I waved her off.

I glanced around the empty living room, my tone casual. “Zane and Amelia didn’t come home last night?”

“Doesn’t seem so,” Mary replied, not thinking much of it, and turned toward the kitchen. Knowing I had a sweet tooth, she added an extra spoonful of

sugar.

Just then, Max came running into the room, planting his hands on his hips and making a face at me. “My mommy was with Uncle Zane last night! You’re gonna get kicked out soon! A bad woman like you doesn’t deserve Uncle Zane at all!”

I nodded thoughtfully, gently pushing his chubby little hand away. “Do you know what you’ll be after your mommy marries Uncle Zane?”

“What?” he demanded, his confidence faltering.

“A burden.”

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Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother

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Chapter 12

I bent down, gently tapping his little nose, my voice as light as if I were telling a bedtime story. “Once your mommy and Uncle Zone have their own baby, no one will want you anymore.”

Max’s face crumpled. Big, fat tears rolled down his cheeks as he angrily grabbed his tablet and started video calling Amelia.

No one answered.

He glared at me with red–rimmed eyes, stubbornly hitting the call button again and again, crying even harder. “That won’t happen! They won’t have other babies!”

He was trying to prove something with his tears.

After several failed calls, he finally gave up.

I smiled. “See? I told you.”

And I wasn’t even lying to him.

After last night’s display, Amelia might very well be pregnant already.

“No way…” Max wiped his tears away with his fists, his little body shaking with sobs. “Daddy…

“The day your daddy died… why weren’t you with them?”

“Mommy wouldn’t let me go. Mommy said…”

My breath hitched. I leaned in, ready to press him further, but just then, Mary came out of the kitchen holding a tray of freshly baked honey bread.

“What’s wrong with Max?” she asked, puzzled. “Why is he crying so hard?”

A notification from Chloe popped up on my phone. I glanced at it, then turned the screen toward Mary, my voice deceptively gentle.

“Probably saw the news. Found out his mother is the other woman. He’s heartbroken.”

Mary looked down at the screen, and her expression immediately shifted-

“Grayson Group CEO Zane’s Late–Night Passionate Kiss with Mysterious Woman at Bar!”

In the photo, under the dim bar lights, a man and a woman were locked in a tender kiss.