Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 236

Chapter 236

Chapter 236

Third–person POV

Zane had just stepped out of his car when he saw the Bentley parking a short distance away. Two people got out, one from each side.

They must have been arguing again. Elara was stomping ahead, while Gavin, following behind her, looked relatively unbothered.

It was a scene Zane had witnessed plenty of times in the past.

Elara always had a shorter fuse around Gavin. He used to tease her for being a “home bully“– brave only with him.

A single wrong word could spark a fight between them, sometimes requiring Zane or Charles to step in and mediate.

Seeing Elara disappear into the building entrance first, Zane strode over, a casual smile on his face. “Gavin. At it again?”

Gavin’s brow furrowed slightly. “Not really.”

“Things were a bit rushed at the restaurant yesterday,” Zane began, falling into step with him as they headed for the entrance. “There wasn’t time to say everything I wanted.

His tone turned earnest. “I know you’re… uncomfortable with how I treated Elara in the past.”

“And you were right. I messed up, not figuring things out sooner, mistaking Amelia for her. But you have my word, from now on, my focus is entirely on Elara. One hundred percent.”

“I’m moving into the building. I’ll be staying right here until she’s ready to forgive me.”

Gavin, who had seemed indifferent until now, suddenly stopped walking. “What did you say?”

Zane was genuinely trying to mend fences with Gavin, regardless of whether the Windsor family was involved in her parents‘ death. At the very least, Elara might still listen to Gavin if he put in a good word for him.

Thinking he had Gavin’s attention, Zane repeated, “I said my focus is entirely on Elara from now-

“Not that part.” Gavin’s jaw tightened. “The last part.”

Zane offered a mild smile. “I’ll be staying here. Waiting for her to change her mind.”

His sincerity was palpable. He’d do anything, if only Elara was willing.

A muscle twitched near Gavin’s eye. He glanced toward the elevator bank, his expression cooling considerably when he saw the girl standing there, looking entirely unsurprised by Zane’s presence.

“Fine. Move in. See if you can wait it out.”

Zane, used to his sharp tongue, didn’t take offense. “I was hoping you might talk to her for me? She always listened to you when we were kids.”

Gavin nodded thoughtfully, agreeing a little too quickly. “Sure.”

“Knew you still wanted what was best for her, deep down.” Zane let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding and walked with him toward the elevators.

The elevator doors slid open, and Elara saw the two men approaching together.

Chapter 236

She acted as if she hadn’t, stepping inside first. She punched the button for her floor and retreated to the corner, not granting either man a single glance.

“Elara.”

Zane started to move closer, but she shrank back another half step, her back pressing flat against the elevator wall.

He stopped, hurt flashing in his eyes, but didn’t push further.

Before stepping out on his floor, he looked at Gavin, his voice laced with a quiet plea. “About what we discussed… I’ll be counting on you.”

Gavin gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. Only then did Zane finally step out.

Elara’s POV

The elevator doors slid shut, sealing me in with him. I frowned. “What did he ask you to bother with?”

My gut told me it was about me.

“He said,” Gavin began, his voice flat as he looked at me, lying through his teeth without a hint of hesitation, “that if he hadn’t realized he got the wrong person, he would’ve divorced you eight hundred times over by now.”

I didn’t believe a single word. It reeked of Gavin’s personal brand of BS.

Though, if Zane really felt that way, I supposed it would be a relief for everyone.

Seeing my silence, Gavin’s lips curled into a smirk. “Hurt your feelings?”

“What feelings? Why would I be hurt?” I shot back, the words sharp. Tit for tat. “At least I got married. What about you? Too scared to do anything but stash a picture of your crush in your wallet.”

I couldn’t resist adding, “I never pegged you for the type to be so… repressed and restrained in matters of the heart-”

My words were cut off as his hand shot out, pinching both my cheeks and squishing my face into a ridiculous shape.

Before I could even process a resistance, his other hand came up to cover the elevator camera.

He leaned in, his mouth capturing mine, swallowing my half–formed protest whole.

In a public elevator? My heart hammered against my ribs. I tried to struggle, a muffled “Mmph!” escaping me.

Thankfully, the elevator dinged, arriving at our floor.

In one fluid motion, Gavin’s arm hooked under my thigh, hoisting me up. He carried me out in two long strides and promptly pinned me against the wall right outside.

His kiss descended on me again, relentless and all–consuming. There was no space, no air, just the fierce pressure of his lips and the frantic meeting of

our tongues.

It was the absolute opposite of the ‘repressed and restrained‘ I’d just accused him of. This was raw, unchecked, and completely overwhelming.

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