Married to the Billionaire Who Betrayed Me novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60 The Heiress Claims Her Territory

Marcus and Leo fell into step behind me. We walked away from the alcove. We left Tristan Johnston standing alone in the shadows,

surrounded by the elite society he chose over me.

The adrenaline crashed through my system the moment I turned my back. A cold sweat broke out across my spine. My hands began to tremble. I curled my fingers into tight fists, hiding the physical reaction. The confrontation required massive amounts of energy. I maintained the ice wall, but the effort drained my reserves.

I needed space. I needed to regroup before the next wave of networking.

I navigated the crowded atrium. The attendees parted for me. They watched the interaction with Tristan. They saw the most powerful man in the capital looking desperate and defeated, while the disgraced former consultant walked away without a backward glance. The power dynamic in the room shifted.

I reached a quiet section near the grand staircase. The crystal chandeliers above cast long, sharp shadows across the marble floor.

Secure the surrounding, I instructed Marcus.

Marcus nodded. He and Leo took up positions ten feet away, creating a buffer zone.

I leaned against a tall cocktail table. I pulled a slow, deep breath into my lungs. The scent of ozone and expensive perfume filled the air. I visualized the Aegis dashboard. I visualized the rising sales numbers. I focused on the tangible assets I controlled.

A waiter passed by with a silver tray. I took a fresh glass of iced water. The condensation chilled my palm. I took a sip. The cold water settled the nausea twisting in my stomach.

I survived the first collision. Tristan knew he could not intimidate me. He knew his money held zero leverage over my actions.

The low hum of conversation in the grand atrium began to swell again. The summit attendees returned to their drinks and their negotiations. The spectacle ended.

I checked my gold watch. Nine o’clock. The reception continued for another two hours. I needed to circulate. I needed to secure a meeting with the tech founder who developed a new inventory tracking algorithm.

I set my glass on the cocktail table. I smoothed the lapels of my crimson blazer. I prepared to step back into the fray.

A sudden shift in the crowd caught my attention.

The attendees near the grand staircase stopped talking. They stepped back, creating a wide berth. The reaction mirrored the moment Tristan approached the alcove. The capital elite always cleared the path for apex predators.

! turned my head.

A woman walked down the sweeping marble steps.

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Chapter 60 The Heiress Claims Her Territory

She wore a gown spun from pale silver silk. The fabric clung to her figure, trailing behind her like liquid metal. Diamonds dripped from her ears and circled her throat, catching the light from the chandeliers. She possessed the radiant, flawless beauty of a woman

brèd for the sole purpose of ruling this exact environment.

Celeste Whitmore.

She reached the bottom of the staircase. Her security detail fanned out behind her. She did not scan the room. She did not look for

her fiancé. She knew exactly where her target stood.

Her eyes locked onto me.

The terror she displayed during our phone call was gone. The panic of the failed manufacturing sabotage was erased. She stood in the center of her domain. She possessed the home-field advantage, and she intended to use it.

A smug, victorious smile stretched across her perfect lips.

She began to walk toward my location.

The crowd watched in silent anticipation. They missed the fireworks between Tristan and myself, but they recognized the impending collision between the billionaire’s fiancée and the woman who crashed their engagement gala. The socialites leaned forward. The investors paused their conversations.

Celeste moved with deliberate, agonizing slowness. She wanted everyone to watch. She wanted the entire summit to witness her

dominance.

Marcus stepped forward to intercept her.

“Stand down, Marcus,” I said. My voice rang clear in the quiet space.

Marcus stopped. He cast a wary glance at Celeste’s security detail, but he obeyed the command. He stepped back, leaving the path

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