Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 289

She’d hit him.

She still cared enough to hit him.

He didn’t give a damn about the nurses witnessing his humiliation. He took off after her, catching up at the elevator bank. “Wait,” he said, blocking her path,

uddenly remembering his original mission. “Why is Elara giving Gavin the cold shoulder? Is it really to get back with Zane?”

Chloe, fuming, glared at him. “Yes! Exactly! They’re getting remarried! Happy now?!”

she couldn’t fathom the male brain. See a woman talk to another man, and that’s all they could think about. See her visit a friend’s mother, and she’s meeting

he future in–laws. See Elara stand near Zane, and it’s a reconciliation.

By that logic, she married a new man every time she took a case to court.

The elevator doors closed on her furious expression. Aiden stood there, processing. After a long moment, he pulled out his phone and sent two texts to Gavin.

Looks like little Elara really is remarrying Zane.]

Traded a slap in the face for this intel. Cherish it.]

When Gavin saw the messages, the air in his lungs turned to lead. He snatched the stress ball from his desk and hurled it. It hit the office door with a loud. atisfying thwack.

uch open displays of frustration were rare for him. It startled Vera enough to make her knock and enter cautiously. “Mr. Windsor? Is everything alright?”

¡avin’s fingers brushed the fading bruise on his cheekbone. His voice was clipped. “Call Elara. Tell her to come up. I need a project update.”

Me?” Vera blinked, surprised by the formality.

You see anyone else here?” His tone was grim.

…Right.” They’re fighting, Vera wisely retreated to make the call.

lara’s POV

was reviewing data when my phone buzzed. Vera’s voice was polite, with an undercurrent of warning. “Elara, Mr. Windsor would like you to come to his ffice for a project update.”

11 be right up.” I gathered the latest feedback reports.

ust before I hung up, she added quietly, “Heads up. He’s not in the best mood”

Thanks.” I took a steadying breath that did very file.

butside the unposing door to the CEO’s office. I paused, gathering myself Then I knocked

Come in The voice from within was deep and chilly

pushed the door open, keeping my eyes lowered. Walking to his desk, i places the folder neatly before him. My vube was calm, protessional, detached

The latest trial feedback data. Results are better than projerted With aidt more observation, we can begin preparations for market approval

My makeup was minimal A light silk blouse, a tailored black skirt that fell to mid calf All business just like my demeanor

I didn’t look directly at him. My expression gave away nothing

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Betrayed? 1 Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother

Chapter 289

very part of me, inside and out, was broadcasting a clean break

javin was visibly furious, and his tone dripped with natural sarcasm. “Do you talk to Zane with this same corporate robot act?”

“My brow furrowed. Against my better judgment, my eyes lifted to meet his.

nd that one glance made me stall.

le was far more skilled than Zane. In a fight last night, he shouldn’t have had a scratch on him. So how did he end up with such a nasty looking bruise? A lotch of yellowing purple, glaringly out of place on his otherwise flawless face.

wanted to leave it alone. It wasn’t my business. But the words slipped out anyway.

Zane did that?”

Yeah. He hit me.” His answer was immediate, almost eager, as if he’d been waiting for me to ask. “He hits me, and you still want to marry him again?”

playing the victim card worked, he wasn’t above using it. Pride was worthless compared to what he actually wanted.

is tone was pure tattletale. It gave me a headache. “Whether I remarry him or not has nothing to do with you anymore.”

he agreement was void. He had no right to control me.

he next second, he yanked open a desk drawer, pulled out that contract, and slapped it on the desk between us. His gaze was lazy as it settled on me. Take a

oser look. Remind yourself what Clause Two says.”

y eyes flicked to the document. Seeing the bold words at the top-“Contract of Personal Service“-was enough. I didn’t need to read the fine print to remember.

o intimate contact with Zane. Avoid even casual contact where possible.

[rowned. “That’s null and void. I remember you agreed last night, before…” Before everything happened.

Jull and void? When did that happen?” He stared at me blankly, then feigned a moment of recollection. “Oh, last night. Right. You mentioned it. But remind e… which exact words of mine constituted an ‘agreement“?”

.” He was being deliberately obtuse. A jerk.

ustration burned in my chest. “Gavin, can you be reasonable? This back–and–forth is pointless!”

‘ointless? Then what would be the point?” He snapped, his own temper flaring. He pushed back from his chair, rounded the desk in three long strides, and anted a hand on the surface beside me, leaning into my space.

lara, you were the one who came begging to me. You were the one who willingly signed this.” His voice was low, intense. “You were the one who said we

uld keep this up until I got tired of it.”

he hand braced on the desk was clenched, knuckles white, tendons standing out. His eyes, fixed unwaveringly on mine, held a faint, dangerous redness. “And ow you think you can just toss me aside?”

was supposed to be a sordid, transactional arrangement. But the way he said it, he made me sound like the heartless villain who’d used him and was now iscarding him.

lis words, hurled at me like accusations, hit their mark. An uncomfortable ache bloomed in my chest. f instinctively leaned back, nearly sitting on the edge of he massive desk. I stayed silent for a long moment, gathering myself, before I finally looked up at the man looming over me

he man who looked like he was demanding an explanation.

let out a heavy breath, trying to ease the tightness constricting my ribs. When I spoke, my voice was cold Gavin, leaving someone all it takes is a heart hard nough to walk away.”

You taught me that. Didn’t you?”

What I’d felt for him back then–the trust, the reliance–was far deeper than anything he claimed to feel for me now.

Chapter 289

And he’d still thrown me away like garbage. Without a second thought.

So we’d each discarded the other once. That seemed fair.

Besides, I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt. It was his family. His grandmother. They were the ones who took my parents from me.

…Wasn’t it?

That

felt like a dagger to his ribs. I saw his eyelid twitch, a barely–there flinch before he deliberately looked away. The hand on the desk trembled slightly from the force of his grip.

When his eyes found mine again, the brief vulnerability was gone, replaced by his usual mask of arrogant indifference. Only the lingering redness around his eyes betrayed any emotion. His voice was all hard edges. “Fine. Then how do you plan to pay the penalty for breach of contract?”

“Since you’re set on remarrying Zane, I’m sure he’d be delighted to front you the 3 billion. Right?” He pushed, leaning in. “Should I call him right now? Ask for the wire transfer?”

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