Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 183

**TITLE: Pushing the Edge 183**

For a fleeting moment, Zane appeared utterly taken aback. His eyes met mine, and I could discern a flicker of guilt lurking within their depths. In an instant, he reached for a glass resting on the table, and with a swift motion, he tilted his head back, downing its contents in one smooth gulp.

The rich brown liquid disappeared, and I watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed with the effort.

Nearby, someone swiftly grabbed the bottle to replenish his glass. It was an unspoken rule among us: to abstain from answering meant incurring the penalty of three drinks.

Throughout this, I kept my gaze firmly fixed on the floor, feeling like an outsider in my own skin.

Lost in a whirlpool of my thoughts, I barely registered the bottle spinning again, its gurgling sound halting as it pointed directly at me.

I lifted my eyes, curious about who had spun it this time, when Vera’s voice sliced through the air. “Who’s more important? Zane, or your brother?”

To an outsider, it might have seemed like an innocuous question, as simple as asking a child whether they preferred Mom or Dad.

But my relationship with Gavin was anything but ordinary.

Thus, Vera’s question carried a weight that felt almost unbearable.

Both Gavin and Zane turned their attention to me in unison, their expressions expectant, while the rest of the group held their breath, waiting for my response.

I managed a small smile, one that felt more like a mask than a genuine expression. “Neither is particularly important.”

My answer elicited laughter from the crowd, though no one appeared especially surprised.

Gavin had left me behind for eight long years.

Zane, too, had kept his distance for three years, all because of Amelia.

It was a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black, and I couldn’t help but feel a bitter irony in the air.

After a few more rounds of drinks, someone suggested we switch gears and play cards.

The private room boasted two card tables, separated by an ornate decorative screen, creating a cozy yet vibrant atmosphere that buzzed with energy but remained pleasantly unobtrusive.

Gavin, Zane, Charles, and Chloe gravitated toward one table, while I settled quietly beside Chloe, observing her as she played.

Someone called out for Aidan to join the other table, but he chose instead to pull up a chair next to Chloe. “I’ll be your good luck charm,” he declared with a playful grin.

“I already have Elara for that,” Chloe replied flatly, before effortlessly placing a tile on the table.

Aidan raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “How about this: if you win, the money’s yours. If you lose, it’s on me. Deal?”

“Deal.” Chloe’s agreement came swiftly, a glint of excitement lighting her eyes.

I made a silent vow to interrogate her about her budding connection with Aidan later that night.

After a while of watching the game unfold, I excused myself to use the restroom, seizing the chance to call Clayton and check on Sylvia.

“Don’t worry, your mentor is almost fully recovered,” Clayton assured me, his voice relaxed and reassuring. “We’re planning to fly back in the next couple of days.”

I was taken aback. “So soon? Don’t you want to stay a bit longer?”

Feeling the girl in his arms gradually soften, Gavin slid his hand from her waist, lifting her slightly. The skin beneath his palm was smooth, silken, and he tightened his grip, melding their bodies together until not a sliver of light could penetrate the space between them.

The air thickened, heavy with unspoken tension.

He was no longer satisfied with merely this.

She was too pliable, too inexperienced.

She yielded so completely to his kisses and his touch, her body trembling lightly against his, as if she had never been touched in such a way before.

His hand, resting on her waist, began to explore further down, seeking the warmth and dampness he knew was there.

The girl in his arms jolted, her eyes flying open as reality crashed back in.

Even though I had mentally prepared for the fact that we might inevitably end up in bed, right here, right now, I found myself unable to handle it.

Even as a lover, I wanted my first time to be in a completely safe, private setting.

Not here, where anyone could walk in at any moment.

My voice trembled as I spoke. “No!”

Gavin retreated slightly, his expression a mix of confusion and frustration. “Not here?”

“No.” I nodded, my hand reaching for the cold, marble door handle. “I’m going back to the room.”