Betrayed I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 147

He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen before stepping aside to take the call. “Talk,” he said curtly.

Though I couldn’t hear the other side, Zane’s expression darkened instantly, like a sudden storm rolling in. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the phone tightly, almost as if he wanted to crush it.

His eyes narrowed into sharp slits, a cold, almost cruel smile curling at the corners of his mouth. “Tine. Get yourself back to New York. Now.”

I had no clue what was unfolding, but this was the first time I’d ever witnessed such a ruthless, chilling look in Zane’s eyes. One thing was clear: it had to be about Amelia. She was the only person who could make his emotions swing so wildly, from calm to fierce in seconds.

Without another word, he ended the call abruptly and strode back toward me, his steps brisk and tense. “Something urgent came up. I have to go.”

“Okay,” I replied, my voice steady and calm, betraying none of the surprise that might have flickered inside.

He fixed me with a sharp gaze. “I’ll come help you move as soon as I’ve handled this.”

Before I could respond, he was already in his car, speeding away. The urgency in his departure was unmistakable—just like every time Amelia had called him before.

I felt nothing. No shock, no disappointment. Not even the faintest ripple of emotion.

I drove straight to the lab and threw myself into my research, immersing every ounce of focus into the work. Maybe Vera’s earlier warning had finally sunk in; those two male colleagues who had always looked down on me were surprisingly cooperative lately. Our overall efficiency had noticeably improved, which was a small but welcome victory.

Later that week, I took a rare afternoon off from the lab to go shopping. I picked up a variety of local specialty foods, savoring the simple pleasure of wandering through the bustling market.

The next morning, long before dawn, I drove to pick up Colton and Sylvia. They were flying out to spend the New Year with their son, and I was happy to give them a ride to the airport.

The holiday rush had turned the airport into a sea of people. We got stuck in a slow-moving traffic jam on the elevated highway, but eventually, I managed to get them to the terminal.

“Elara, you must take good care of yourself,” Sylvia said, pulling me into a tight, reluctant hug. “Call us anytime, for anything.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. You both take care too,” I replied with a warm smile as I said goodbye to my mentor and his wife.

Just as I was about to start the engine and leave, my phone rang.

I answered quickly. “Hello?”

“Hello. This is the NYPD. Are you a relative of Chloe’s?” The voice on the other end was all business, no hint of warmth.

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