Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 291

Chapter 291

I prodded gently around the edges of the swelling. “It’s not broken. But it’s a bad contusion. You need ice. Then medicated ointment for a few days.”

“Fine.” He didn’t argue the point, just gave a casual nod. “Then you can handle the ice and the ointment.”

My head throbbed. I let his pant leg fall and stood up, my voice flat. “I don’t have any with me.” I didn’t carry that specific salve around unless I was going back to the Windsor estate. And now, with those people out of prison, the old woman there wouldn’t dare move against me openly.

Gavin raised a brow, then extended an arm like a king expecting assistance. “If the medicine’s at home, then you can drive me.”

Dusk was settling outside. I’d be heading home soon after leaving his office anyway. But this felt… profoundly absurd. I was trying to cut ties, but the threads just seemed to get more tangled.

When I didn’t move, he pulled out his phone. “Should I dial 9117”

“…” I gritted my teeth and gave in. He had power and influence. I had assaulted him. Involving the police would only hurt me. They might even detain me for a few days.

Resigned, I slipped under his arm, letting him lean on me as we made our way out. Vera saw us leaving the office and wisely didn’t offer to help, just gave me a sympathetic, “Good luck” look.

Third–person POV

Neil and Locke had just parked in the underground garage when they saw Elara supporting Gavin as he hobbled out of the office building.

“Did his leg get worse?” Locke asked, concern knitting his brow as he unbuckled his seatbelt. “He can barely walk.”

After the fight with Zane last night, Gavin had been so furious about Zane’s parting shot that he’d kicked a heavy antique table in his penthouse. The table had lost. His shin had also lost. But it hadn’t seemed this bad this morning.

Neil, wiser to the ways of his employer, grabbed Locke’s arm. “Save your energy. The boss has mastered the art.”

“What art?”

Neil smiled faintly. “The art of looking pathetic.”

Elara’s POV

I didn’t see Neil’s car. Gavin didn’t specify a vehicle, so I helped him into the passenger seat of my own.

The drive was silent. But I could feel his gaze on me the entire time, heavy and unapologetic.

The last fiery light ofanset streamed through the windshield, casting a warm, golden glow over us. For the first time in days, the space between us held a fragile, unexpected peace.

The shifting light played over my profile as I drove. I could feel him watching, his gaze holding a trace of hesitation, a struggle, as if he was afraid to shatter this delicate truce.

After a long while, he seemed to come to a decision. For the first time, he set aside his usual pride. His lips parted. “Jess… about what happened back then. I can give you an explanation.”

My fingers tightened on the steering wheel. My breath caught, a sour, aching sensation pulling at my chest. My voice came out hoarse. “I don’t need it anymore.”

He finally wanted to explain. And now I was too afraid to hear it.

A small, shameful part of me was grateful I’d never gotten that explanation. Because if his reasons were too good, too compelling, some unbearable hardship… I

Chapter 291

was afraid I wouldn’t have the strength to make the clean break I needed to make.

I rejected him too quickly, leaving no room for his next sentence,

His lips twisted. “So it means nothing to you now?”

I didn’t answer. I guided the car into the underground parking of our building, smoothly backing into my assigned spot. “We’re here. Get out”

We’d just reached the elevator bank when we ran into Zane again.

Gavin’s eyes turned cold. He immediately shifted, slinging his arm more heavily over my shoulders, pulling me snug against his side. “You’re not supporting my weight properly like this. This is better.” The pose was intimately close.

Zane heard the commotion and looked over, his brow furrowing

He masked his irritation, offering me a smile. “You came back with Aiden?”

He hurt his leg.” I gave him the result, skipping the cause. I didn’t shrug off Gavin’s heavy arm.

Lane’s eyebrow quirked slightly. He looked at Gavin. “She’s not strong enough to support you properly. Let me help.” He moved to transfer Gavin’s weight to imself.

No need.” Gavin shifted away from Zane’s grasp, making a show of stumbling. His back hit the wall with a soft thump.

quickly steadied him. Understanding Zane’s game, my voice cooled. “It’s fine. I can manage. Don’t jostle him.”

Hear that?” Gavin settled his weight on me again, smirking at Zane. “I don’t need your help.”

he elevator arrived. I helped Gavin in first. Zane watched our backs, his expression cold, before following.

When he looked at me again, his face had softened. “I need to talk to you. Can I come up later?”

calculated the time. Chloe had texted she’d be late again. “Okay. After 8:30.”

When the elevator reached our floor, I helped Gavin into his apartment, fetched an ice pack from his fridge, and started the process.

s I worked, something about the injury bothered me. “This looks like… a reinjury. An existing bruise that got aggravated.”

He hadn’t expected me to be so observant, but his face gave nothing away. “Doesn’t matter how many times it was hurt. Your kick was the one that did this.”

nreasonable.

ut I couldn’t win an argument with him. “Hold the ice pack. I’ll go get the ointment.”

The storage cabinet.” He tilted his chin toward a wall unit.

walked over and opened it. Inside was an entire box, filled with identical tubes of the special salve.

ly salve. The one I’d formulated years ago. It used rare ingredients, was expensive to produce. After he left, I couldn’t afford to make it anymore and had to use ess effective alternatives.

ut…