Betrayed I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 182

**TITLE: Pushing the Edge 182**
**Chapter 182**

I found myself momentarily stunned, the name escaping my lips like a breath of disbelief. “Vera.”

With a teasing lilt, she responded, “Little Elara, why so formal?” Her voice danced in the air, light and playful, yet there was an undercurrent of something more serious.

Charles, ever the instigator, shot a glance at Gavin, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “You know, I heard from my old man over the holidays that there’s an engagement arrangement between Gavin’s family and Vera’s. Might not be long before you have to start calling her saozi…” His words hung in the air, heavy with implication.

Before he could finish his thought, Gavin coolly plucked the unlit cigarette from his lips and shot Charles a look that was nothing short of exasperation. “Whoever agreed to the engagement can go marry her themselves.” His tone was icy, the meaning behind his words as clear as day—he was not about to acknowledge any such arrangement.

Charles let out an awkward laugh, the kind that suggested he wasn’t quite sure how to navigate this sudden tension. “But… wasn’t it your grandmother who arranged it…?” His voice trailed off, clearly regretting the question the moment it left his mouth.

“Then she can marry my grandmother.” Gavin’s retort was casual, almost dismissive. He snapped the cigarette in half, letting the pieces fall into the ashtray with a finality that echoed his disinterest. Then, his gaze flicked over to me, and it felt as though he was offering an explanation meant solely for my ears—a clarification of his relationship with Vera that left no room for misinterpretation.

Chloe leaned in closer, her breath warm against my ear as she whispered, “I gotta say, your ‘boyfriend’ is quick to shut down rumors. He doesn’t give you any room to misunderstand.”

I opened my mouth to respond, to spill the truth that weighed heavily on my heart, but the words lodged in my throat. Instead, I remained silent, caught in a web of unspoken feelings.

Despite Gavin’s clear dismissal of Vera, she lingered in the room, her presence a silent testament to the tension that had begun to build.

The atmosphere shifted, thickening with unspoken words and electric energy.

Gavin seemed entirely unfazed, sprawled comfortably on the sofa. His eyes lazily drifted over to Chloe before he returned to his phone, tapping away with one hand as if the world around him didn’t exist.

I felt a pang of anxiety at the thought of sitting next to Zane, the weight of our history making the prospect uncomfortable. Instead, I tugged Chloe with me to a quieter corner, seeking refuge in her company.

After a few moments of uneasy silence, Charles, ever the entertainer, suggested we play a game of Truth or Dare to break the tension.

The rules were simple: spin the bottle. Whoever the neck pointed to had to either answer a question or accept a dare from the spinner. It was a game that required little thought, allowing everyone to join in, regardless of their previous experience.

As we settled into the game, the atmosphere grew warmer, laughter bubbling up as we all began to relax. Vera, with her innate charm, blended right in, effortlessly drawing people into the fun.

As the rounds continued, the dares grew bolder, and the questions more daring. Somehow, I had managed to evade the bottle’s neck every single time, but my luck was about to change.

This round, the bottle landed on Chloe, who sat right beside me.

A friend of Charles’s, eager to stir the pot, asked her, “What are your criteria for a partner?”

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