Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 141

Amelia’s high heels clicked sharply against the pavement as she stormed toward her car, her anger simmering beneath the surface. Just as she rounded a corner, a sudden, forceful hand yanked her back, slamming her against the cold, unforgiving concrete wall.

Theodore stood there, eyes blazing with fury, his grip tightening painfully on a handful of her hair. “You bitch! What’s with your people dodging me these last few days? Did I really have to come find you myself?” His voice was low and threatening, laced with raw frustration.

Amelia’s mind raced. This woman—Amelia—was far too cunning for her own good. When she had approached him at Mrs. Grayson’s birthday banquet, she’d presented their alliance as something beneficial for both parties. But now, after the hotel fiasco on auction day, she had used the Grayson family as her shield, slipping away without a scratch while he was left to face the fallout alone.

He had sent his men to track her down, but she was either holed up at home or glued to Zane’s side, making herself impossible to reach. The pain in her scalp was sharp where he held her hair, but Amelia refused to back down. “I’m not dodging you! The hotel incident wasn’t my fault,” she snapped, trying to keep her voice steady despite the sting.

She had orchestrated everything with precision. Even if Gavin’s team was quick, Theodore should have had more than enough time to take down that little slut. The failure was his, yet here he was, blaming her.

Through gritted teeth, Theodore growled, “Who was the one who guaranteed me this plan was foolproof? If you hadn’t been so damn sure, I never would have gotten on board with your sinking ship.” The bitterness in his voice was palpable. He had paid a heavy price for trusting her.

Amelia’s heart clenched at the mention of the consequences. She’d heard from Zane about what Gavin had done to Theodore—the irreversible damage. Her absence over the past few days was a deliberate move to avoid this backlash. But now, the flames had caught up with her, and Theodore was holding her fully responsible.

She clenched her jaw, trying to ease the pain in her scalp, and shifted her tone to something more conciliatory. “I couldn’t have known Mr. Windsor would show up that day. You can’t blame me for that…” Then, as if struck by a sudden idea, her voice hardened with determination. “If you want to blame someone, blame Ella. She’s the real cause of all your problems.”

She nodded toward a sleek car parked nearby, a sly smile tugging at her lips. “You were the one destroyed, but she walked away without a scratch. Right now, she’s probably off using that pretty face of hers to charm someone new.”

In the distance, Elias slid into the driver’s seat of Ella’s car, the two of them likely heading off to some intimate celebration.

“Shut your mouth!” Theodore snapped, his hand striking her cheek with a sharp, stinging slap. He had no patience for gentleness. “Don’t think I’m blind to what you’re doing. You still want to use me to clear your way to becoming the next Mrs. Grayson, don’t you?”

Tears pricked Amelia’s eyes from the sudden pain, but she fought to keep her voice steady. “I’m just saying it’s not fair! Look at what you sacrificed for her. If you ask me, you should ruin that pretty little face of hers.”

“Then she’d have no choice but to cling to you forever,” she added bitterly.

***

Theodore rarely met a woman so venomous. He gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his fiery gaze. “You’re jealous of her, aren’t you? Amelia, let’s be honest—you should be. Your face isn’t worthy of being compared to even one of her toes.”

Elara’s POV

Elias and I arrived to find Colton and his wife Sylvia bustling in the kitchen, the aroma of a home-cooked meal filling the air. The main dishes were already laid out on the dining table, while Sylvia added the final touches to some quick sides.

I placed the gift bag down gently and stepped into the kitchen, smiling warmly. “Happy birthday, Colton! Here’s to a hundred years of good health and happiness!”

Sylvia chuckled without missing a beat as she seasoned a dish. “At his age? If he makes it to a hundred, he’ll be a certified old monster!”

Colton feigned offense, grinning. “I’d be perfectly happy being a monster, thank you very much. And you better stick around to be one with me, my dear.”

Elias laughed, teasing, “Sir, the food isn’t even served yet, and you’re already feeding us this sweet couple-goal nonsense?”

The room filled with light-hearted warmth, a brief respite from the tension that lingered elsewhere.