Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 173

**TITLE: Pushing the Edge 173**

**Chapter 173**

“Elara!” Victoria’s voice was a tempest, her frustration palpable. “If you would just—”

“That’s enough!” Old Mrs. Grayson interjected sharply, her gaze piercing as it landed on Victoria.

“Victoria, what does it matter if the children are running a bit late? It’s the holidays, for goodness’ sake. There’s no need to blow this out of proportion.”

“Understood, Mother.” Victoria’s voice was clipped, but beneath her composed exterior, a flicker of anxiety coursed through her. The weight of her mother-in-law’s authority always loomed large, and in that moment, she felt herself retreating into silence.

As we settled into the meal, the atmosphere was a mix of festive cheer and underlying tension. Suddenly, Zane’s phone buzzed insistently. Leaning closer to me, he murmured, “Keep eating. I need to take this.”

“Mm.” I blinked, a wave of confusion washing over me. His behavior was unusual; he never felt the need to announce his calls before.

I was busy savoring a shrimp cocktail, lifting one delicately from the glass, when disaster struck. A server, clearly flustered, stumbled and sent an entire bowl of mango pomelo sago cascading over me.

“I’m so sorry, Second Young Madam! My hand slipped!” The server’s face was a mask of horror.

I quickly brushed off the incident with a wave of my hand. “It’s fine. I’ll just go clean up.”

With that, I made my way to the restroom, relieved that the mess had only splattered on my sleeve. A quick wash should suffice.

As I passed by the backyard, I caught snippets of Zane’s conversation. “You’re sure you can find a lead?” His voice was low, almost urgent.

“Spare no expense. Any trace of her,” came the reply.

My heart raced instinctively, but before I could fully process the implications, Zane’s eyes locked onto mine.

A flicker of guilt flashed across his face. He quickly muttered something into the phone, lowered it, and strode toward me.

I managed a weak smile, curiosity bubbling within me. “Did Amelia go missing?”

“No.” Zane shook his head, his expression guarded.

I couldn’t fathom anyone else who would prompt such a desperate inquiry from him, but I chose not to pry further. “I’m just going to the restroom.”

The mango juice proved more stubborn than I anticipated, clinging to the fabric like a stubborn stain.

I scrubbed under the faucet for what felt like an eternity, managing only to lighten the mark slightly.

Tonight was New Year’s Eve, and I had to attend the Windsor’s dinner. If that sharp-tongued old lady caught sight of my stained sleeve, I could only imagine the barbs she’d unleash.

Just as frustration began to bubble within me, a knock echoed from the bathroom door.

I turned off the faucet, hastily grabbing paper towels to blot my sleeve before opening the door. To my surprise, Zane stood there, his expression softening as he held out a fresh set of clothes.

“How did you know…” I began, astonished.

He smiled warmly, pinching my cheek playfully. “Your husband isn’t blind, Elara. I saw what happened. Go on, change.”

He pressed the clothes into my hands, and I felt a flutter of warmth at his concern.

11:04

Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother

Zane’s words echoed in my mind, heavy with significance… but they felt like they had come just a moment too late.

I had never been one to believe in second chances.

After the meal, Max eagerly tugged at Zane’s arm, pleading for him to play ball in the backyard.

As soon as they stepped outside, Victoria turned her steely gaze toward me. “Come upstairs with me.”

I hesitated briefly, then followed her up the staircase, my heart racing with uncertainty.

We entered the study in silence, and the door barely clicked shut before Victoria wasted no time. “You and Zane need to delay announcing the divorce.”

It was clear she hadn’t anticipated her son becoming so deeply invested in me. Her meticulously crafted plan had veered off course in a way she hadn’t foreseen.

To be honest, I hadn’t seen it coming either.

The thought that he would sever ties with Amelia and now refuse to divorce me was a whirlwind I could hardly comprehend.

Thank goodness the divorce was already in motion. Gathering my thoughts, I met Victoria’s gaze. “I only agreed to keep it under wraps until after Christmas. Two more weeks, at most.”

“Elara…” Victoria’s tone softened, revealing her understanding of her son’s temperament. He might appear gentle and refined, but once his mind was made up, there was no swaying him.

If Zane discovered that she had used her connections to expedite their divorce without his knowledge, he would likely turn against her.

As much as she despised me, Victoria had no option but to temper her tone. “Consider this a personal favor I owe you. Alright?”

“Auntie,” I replied with a smile, “does the Grayson family typically go back on their word when negotiating business deals?”