Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 233

Chapter 233

Of course, their actual words were much nastier.

They’d even looked down on me for being a woman in a position above them.

Seeing my slight frown, he remembered something and smiled.

“Oh, and we don’t have to worry about Amelia trying to share our results anymore.”

“How so?”

Wasn’t this a government–promoted joint project?

Abbott gestured upwards. “Our CEO wasn’t having it. He personally gave the order–no more joint development. He made it clear our team can handle this alone.”

Abbott was clearly pleased with this news.

That Amelia seemed all talk, just waiting to profit from others‘ work. As researchers, they hated dealing with that type.

Experiments were exhausting enough without wasting energy guarding against petty people.

Hearing this, I was stunned. I never thought Gavin, with his insane schedule, would bother with this.

Before I could speak, Abbott leaned in conspiratorially. “Even the Windsor Group R&D director got demoted over this. Now she just gets dividends, no real power.”

I knew the R&D director was Gavin’s aunt, even though I hadn’t dealt with her directly. I also remembered Gavin, for all his arrogance, usually showed her some respect during family gatherings.

This time, he’d actually…

Seemed he took this project very seriously.

A thought occurred to me. If I could develop this drug quickly, maybe I could negotiate with Gavin. Get him to tear up that contract that basically made me his property?

The profits this drug could bring Windsor far exceeded 3 billion. Enough to cover my ‘breach of contract‘ many times over.

The more I thought about it, the more possible it seemed. A new surge of motivation fueled my work.

Later that evening, as I was preparing to work overtime, Margaret called.

I stopped what I was doing and walked to the window, pulling down the blackout blind. “Grandmother.”

“Come home for dinner tonight. We have guests.”

It wasn’t a request. It was an order. Typical Margaret.

Through the massive glass window, I watched the traffic far below. My voice was flat.

“I don’t have time today.”

Her authoritative tone came through the phone. “Do you think just because Zane is protecting you now, I can’t do anything to you?”

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Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother

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I took a silent, deep breath. “I genuinely don’t have the time.”

On the other end, Margaret let out a short laugh. “I hear Chloe’s business trip is almost over, isn’t it?”

There it was. Her specialty: threats.

Every time I tried to push back, threats and retaliation followed. Going up against an old, powerful family like the Windsors by myself was a losing battle. I couldn’t fight head–on. I had to bide my time, build my strength.

On the way to Windsor Manor, all I could think about was calculating the fastest possible timeline for this project.

Once it was done, once the Windsors couldn’t control me like this anymore, I’d take Chloe and get far away from here. If not elsewhere in the country, then abroad.

I refused to let these people keep targeting Chloe.

Maybe power and class could neatly divide people into tiers. Privileged people like Margaret never saw ordinary people like me or Chloe as equals.

But the world is built on ordinary people, isn’t it? Why should the privileged get to call all the shots?

I swore I’d climb to the very top of this damned pyramid. I’d never let anyone control me again. And I’d never, ever become someone like Margaret–using power and status as a weapon, looking down on anyone she deemed beneath her.

The more power and wealth you have, the more you should be using it to actually help people.

Stuck in rush hour traffic, it took me over an hour to reach the estate.

Walking into the drawing–room, bag in hand, I saw Vera sitting gracefully beside Margaret.

So she was tonight’s ‘guest.‘

Margaret wore a rare expression of pleasantness. She clearly approved of Vera.

I approached. “Grandmother.”

Perhaps because Vera was present, Margaret actually maintained a shred of amiability upon seeing me. “There you are. We were waiting for you to start dinner.”

Vera gave me a warm smile. “Elara. Bad traffic?”

“Vera. Rush hour.” I’d barely finished speaking when Margaret shot me a reproving look.

“Don’t call her ‘Vera.‘ She’s your future sister–in–law.”

“Let’s wait until Gavin and I are actually married for that,” Vera said with a light laugh.

Dinner was lavish, though Margaret alone usually demanded at least six courses. It didn’t matter if it went uneaten; it had to reflect her status.

I wasn’t sure why Margaret had summoned me tonight, so during the meal, I kept my head down and my mouth shut. If the old lady wasn’t talking, I wasn’t asking.

But my reprieve was short–lived.

Halfway through the meal, Margaret slowly set down her utensils and fixed her scrutinizing gaze on me. “What exactly is your relationship with

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Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother

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Chapter 233

Gavin now?”

The question made my scalp prickle.

I instinctively glanced at Vera, but it didn’t seem like her style. She wouldn’t have exposed my situation with Gavin to Margaret.

Wiping my mouth with a napkin, I countered softly, “What do you mean?”

“I’m asking how far your relationship with Gavin has progressed?”

Margaret’s voice cooled, impatient with my caution.

“He used to treat you like a treasure. You cried, and he’d give you anything. What about now?”

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