Betrayed I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 193

Chapter 193

Noticing my gaze was about to land squarely on his screen, he quickly put his phone away, as if afraid I’d realize he was searching for someone

else. He cleared his throat.

“L…”

“You probably have things to deal with, right?” I could see his urgency and used the opportunity to let him off the hook.

He did seem anxious. “There is something I need to handle.”

“Then you should go.” I said.

He shot a wary, somewhat distrustful look at Elias standing beside me, but after weighing his options, he nodded.

“Alright. It really is urgent.”

Once I gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, he strode purposefully toward the elevator bank.

He practically radiated impatience, his entire figure looking like a man on a mission.

n POV

The moment he slid into the backseat of the car, Zane immediately called his assistant back. “I’ve definitely seen this photo somewhere before.”

And the more he looked at the person in the picture, the more familiar she seemed–intensely familiar.

He felt like an answer was hovering just at the edge of his memory, fighting to break through.

His voice was tight, laced with urgency.

“Dig deeper using this photo. Don’t miss a single clue.”

“Yes, boss.”

Zane took a measured breath, his tone lowering, becoming more deliberate.

“Amelia revealed that the people who adopted Jess back then were from this city. How is the investigation progressing based on that lead?”

“We’re still working on it. I’m currently cross–referencing prominent families who might have had any connections to the drug trade. It will take

some time.”

There were plenty of wealthy, powerful families in New York, but those who’d had any dealings in the narcotics world were far fewer. Start. from that angle might save them some time.

The problem was, adoptions were often handled discreetly by these families, kept out of the public eye.

They had to spend significant effort just confirming whether a family had ever adopted a child.

Add to that the fact that these elite families were masters at covering their tracks and erasing evidence, and the process became even more time–consuming.

Zane gave a slight, grim nod. “Make it quick.”

After hanging up and instructing the driver to get going, he placed another call.

19:43

Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother

69.69%

Chapter 193

“Did you arrange for Amelia to join that pharmaceutical research project?”

After turning it over in his mind, he concluded his mother was the most likely person to have interfered.

The accusatory tone didn’t seem to surprise Victoria, but her denial was swift. “What research project? I haven’t even heard about this. How

could I have arranged it?”

Zane didn’t believe a word of it.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, his brow furrowed. “You’d better advise her to back off. My patience has its limits.”

He’d let Amelia go once, for the sake of his late brother, Ethan, and his young nephew, Max. But there wouldn’t be a second time.

After Zane left, I went back to the lab to grab my things and headed straight home.

Gavin hadn’t been back since Christmas.

I’d secretly started to relax, thinking he’d finally gotten bored of this ordinary penthouse and was ready to return to the embrace of his massive

mansion.

Living across the hall, that damn contract felt like a cursed headband, permanently tightened around my skull.

ming back to the estate would have been a welcome relief.

humming a little tune unconsciously as I stepped out of the elevator.

“Well, look at you. This happy because you knew I was coming back today?”

I hadn’t even reached my door when his voice–magnetic and annoyingly pleasant–sounded from behind me. My steps faltered, the cheerful melody dying instantly in my throat.

I hadn’t expected him back so suddenly, without any warning.

So, I hadn’t even glanced to the left when I exited the elevator. Now, turning stiffly, I saw him leaning against his doorframe, his sapphire–blue eyes fixed intently on me.

He looked like he’d just showered. Dressed in off–white loungewear, his slightly damp golden hair fell casually across his forehead. He seemed less severe than usual, more relaxed, radiating a clean, refreshed vibe.

My spirit deflated. “You’re overthinking it.”

No.

I was the one overthinking.

How could I have naively believed that Gavin, finally having a way to control me, would just let it go?

He let out a low chuckle.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify