Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 175

**TITLE: Pushing the Edge 175**

His words were meticulously crafted, each syllable weighed with meaning. It was a delicate balance—half an admission that I had endured hardship due to his neglect, and half a subtle dig suggesting that the Windsors had failed me as well.

The butler, ever astute, grasped the implication instantly. A nervous chuckle escaped him, a sound that felt awkward in the otherwise silent corridor.

“I’m sure the Madam will be absolutely delighted to hear that,” he said, his voice tinged with an odd mixture of professionalism and discomfort.

I chose to remain silent, my feet carrying me deeper into the house, the familiar surroundings wrapping around me like a blanket, albeit a heavy one.

As we approached the grand entrance of the reception hall, I caught the faint sound of my younger cousins playfully calling someone “saozi.” Confusion flickered within me, a momentary spark in the otherwise steady stream of my thoughts.

The boys from both my aunts’ families were still in their youth, blissfully unburdened by the responsibilities of marriage. The only ones who had reached the age where such matters were even considered were Gavin and Theodore.

With a sense of curiosity, I stepped inside and spotted the figure at the center of the younger cousins’ attention—Vera.

She was adorned in an exquisitely tailored Dior tweed ensemble, a departure from her usual sharp, professional attire. This outfit exuded a gentle, refined elegance, reminiscent of a true young lady from an esteemed family.

The moment our eyes locked, a spark of recognition passed between us.

With a warm smile lighting up her face, she approached. “Zane, Elara! Merry Christmas!”

Her voice was bright, filled with a genuine warmth that made the air feel lighter.

Still wearing my faint smile, I managed to reply, “Merry Christmas.”

Vera took my hand, her grip firm yet gentle, guiding me toward the plush sofa that beckoned us. “You two seem so close now. Any plans for when you’ll start having children?”

The question caught me off guard, and I froze momentarily, the air thick with unspoken tensions. Just then, Zane’s smooth, warm voice cut through the silence beside me.

“That’s entirely her decision. Whenever she wants them, we’ll have them.”

At his words, a bitter laugh bubbled up inside me, one I quickly stifled.

Back in our second year of marriage, I had yearned for a child, a family to call my own, someone who would share my blood. But Zane had never touched me.

How could I have a child, even if my heart ached for one?

Vera, seemingly an outsider to our complex web, sounded almost envious. “Zane treats you so well.”

I forced a smile, a mere shadow of sincerity. “I suppose.”

“Oh, right…” Vera hesitated, a hint of awkwardness creeping into her tone. “I need to tell you something I withheld before. I’m not just your brother’s secretary. Gavin and I… we’re actually engaged.”

“Zane, this child Elara has a rather difficult temperament. I hope she hasn’t been causing your family any trouble lately?”

Her words dripped with a condescending tone, as if she were a grandmother fretting over a wayward granddaughter.

But beneath that façade, I recognized the intent to belittle me, a tactic I had long grown accustomed to.

She had made similar remarks about me to others for years, each one like a needle poking at my self-worth.

Zane’s brow furrowed in response. He glanced down at me, his voice turning cool and protective. “Elara has never caused me any trouble. And no one in my family finds her temperament difficult.”

“On the contrary, she’s wonderful. My grandmother and mother are both very fond of her.”

Margaret appeared somewhat chastened, her composure faltering. “Is that so? Then perhaps the girl only acts out here at the Windsors—”

“Grandmother.” Zane’s tone was steady, yet it carried a weight that commanded attention.

As he spoke, he casually draped his arm over my shoulders, a possessive gesture that cut her off mid-sentence. “Elara has the best temperament of anyone I’ve ever met. Sometimes I wonder what kind of environment could have shaped someone into the person she is now.”

“The Windsor family… surely it has treated Elara as well as the outside world claims?”