Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 139

Chapter 139

“Why on earth would I do that?” I snapped, my cheeks burning with humiliation as all eyes seemed to fixate on us. I struggled to pull my arm free, desperate to break away. “Zane, please, just be reasonable.”

He shot me a sharp look, his brow knitting together in genuine frustration. “I’m not being reasonable?” he retorted, his voice tight. I could tell he was wrestling with emotions he hadn’t expected to feel. Watching me laugh so easily, so comfortably, with another man had ignited a sharp edge of jealousy and irritation deep inside him.

He explained that Amelia had been nagging him to go shopping, and he’d agreed just to keep the peace, not wanting to raise any alarms. But then he’d stumbled upon this scene—me, relaxed and familiar with someone else during what should have been our private time.

I was his wife, yes. And he could accept that I had professional interactions with other men. But this—this casual closeness, this ease—it set off every warning bell in his mind.

“Your idea of ‘reasonable’ is just a fancy way to justify a double standard,” I shot back, my voice icy. He could go out with Amelia whenever he liked, but if I had one meal with a colleague, suddenly he was losing his mind.

His tone brooked no argument. “Amelia has moved out. I’m taking you to pack your things right now. You’re coming home.”

“And if I say no?” I challenged, refusing to back down.

“Ella,” he said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl. “This isn’t up for discussion.”

At that moment, the elevator doors slid open with a soft ding. Zane’s grip on my arm tightened as he tried to pull me inside—

“Mr. Grayson.”

The voice was calm but carried a sharp edge that sliced through the tension like a knife. Gavin stood there, his posture deceptively relaxed but his eyes sharp and assessing. “I was wondering where my sister disappeared to after I stepped away to take a phone call. Imagine my surprise finding her being manhandled out here.”

Zane’s frown deepened, but I caught a flicker of relief in his eyes. He glanced from Gavin back to me. “You were having dinner with Gavin?”

“Yeah,” I admitted, feeling my cheeks flame with embarrassment now that Gavin was here to witness the scene. I yanked my arm free from Zane’s grasp.

Gavin gently took my hand, his thumb brushing lightly over the red marks. His eyes darkened even further. “She’s an adult. She has the right to spend time with whoever she pleases.”

I looked up at him, momentarily stunned. For a brief second, it felt like he had slipped back in time—the big brother who had always stood between me and the world, determined to keep me safe from harm.

Zane finally seemed to realize the damage he’d caused. A flicker of genuine remorse crossed his face. “I… I was just too tense. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Then, with his usual smoothness, offering a peace gesture, he added, “By the way, Gavin’s moved recently. We’re all going to his housewarming party next week. You should come too.”

And me? My first thought was, I’ll get to see Scott.

“I know,” I said flatly, my voice lacking any real enthusiasm.

Zane’s gaze softened as he heard my quiet acceptance. He looked at me like I was a misbehaving child who had finally come to her senses.