Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 184

**TITLE: Pushing the Edge 184**

Without allowing a moment for him to respond, I swiftly slipped away, my heart racing as I ducked into the restroom. I needed a moment to collect myself, to fix my lipstick, and to regain some semblance of composure before re-entering our private room.

As I stood before the mirror, I could barely recognize the woman staring back at me. My heart was still pounding against my ribs, a frantic rhythm that echoed my inner turmoil. I took a deep breath, applied a fresh coat of lipstick, and hurried back to the room, the anticipation of what awaited me sending shivers down my spine.

Pushing the door open, I was met with a rush of anxiety. If I had known that Gavin thrived on this sort of reckless thrill, I might have thought twice about my plan to save Chloe. The simplicity I had envisioned—sleeping with Gavin when he desired me—now seemed naïve.

He was undeniably attractive, and I had convinced myself it wouldn’t be a loss. Yet, I never anticipated this: being pinned against walls and kissed by him in semi-public places, his hands roaming freely, igniting a mix of terror and exhilaration within me. Each encounter left me breathless, my heart racing, and my mind swirling with confusion.

**Third-person POV**

Gavin stood in the dimly lit room, watching the door click shut behind her, his expression inscrutable. His thumb rubbed slowly against his fingertips, a faint smirk threatening to break free at the corners of his lips. He relished the thrill of the moment, knowing that Elara was likely anxious about Zane discovering their secret. After a brief pause, he opened the door and stepped out, his confidence radiating from him.

He had barely taken two steps when Vera’s voice cut through the air like a knife.

“You…” she stammered, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, leaving small crescent marks. For a moment, words escaped her as she processed what she had just witnessed. Elara had emerged from the room, flustered and disheveled, her lipstick smudged and her lips swollen from the fervent kisses she had received.

Vera’s mind raced, grappling with the shocking reality. Elara, who appeared so reserved and demure, was engaging in this sort of reckless behavior? With a man she had thought of as a mere acquaintance? The realization that this ‘random man’ was Gavin sent a wave of disbelief crashing over her.

Gavin, however, wore an expression devoid of guilt, completely unfazed by the implications of his actions. His gaze met Vera’s, cool and detached. “Me, what?” he asked, his tone laced with indifference.

“You… you and Elara…” Vera’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening as the truth settled in. “What is going on between you and Elara?” The shock was palpable in her voice.

She couldn’t wrap her head around it. This was Gavin—the man who could have any woman he desired! For years, she had thrown herself at him, yet he had never acknowledged her. As his secretary, she had witnessed countless women attempt to seduce him, and he had rejected them all without a second thought.

The more elusive he became, the more Vera found herself drawn to him, wanting to claim this man who seemed so unattainable. She often daydreamed about what it would be like to be the woman he truly loved, to be the one he devoted himself to. Yet, she never imagined that this man, whom she had placed on such a high pedestal, would be entangled with Elara.

He had kissed her until she looked like that—vulnerable and breathless.

Hearing Vera’s incredulous question, Gavin didn’t even bother to lift his eyelids. His voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “Give me one reason why I should explain myself to you.”

He exuded an air of nonchalance, seemingly oblivious to the impropriety of his relationship with Elara. Yet, it was this very indifference that fascinated Vera, drawing her in further.

Vera’s lips moved, her words measured. “She… she is, after all, the little sister you practically raised yourself. If this gets out, it will ruin your reputation.”

**Elara’s POV**

I stepped back into the private room, the atmosphere thick with laughter and camaraderie. Zane waved me over, his smile infectious. “Come on, take over for a bit,” he urged, gesturing to the game in progress.

“I’m not very good,” I replied, uncertainty creeping into my voice.

“Doesn’t matter. Just play for fun.” Zane shrugged, relinquishing his seat without a second thought. “Your husband has money. So what if we lose a few hands?”

“Holy crap,” Charles chimed in, shaking his head in disbelief. “This isn’t a card game; it’s a damn dog food convention.”

Just as I settled into my seat and began sorting through my tiles, the door swung open once more.

Gavin re-entered, his demeanor completely unbothered—a stark contrast to the intensity he had exuded moments before. My gaze drifted to his lips, and a pang of guilt shot through me, a reminder of the reckless thrill we had just shared. My hand trembled, accidentally knocking over the tiles I had been arranging.

Chloe, ever the jokester, chimed in with a laugh, “What’s this? Showing your hand before we even start?”

The laughter echoed around me, but inside, I was grappling with the whirlwind of emotions that Gavin had stirred within me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that our game was just beginning.