Betrayed I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 212

**TITLE: Pushing the Edge 212**

**Chapter 212**

As the night unfolded, he sank to his knees before me, his large, warm hand enveloping mine with a gentle yet firm grip. “If it does,” he whispered, his voice barely above a murmur, “squeeze my hand.”

I found myself frozen, just staring at him, caught off guard by the unexpected intimacy of the moment.

His demeanor tonight was… perplexing.

Yes, he had always maintained a certain level of politeness—a true gentleman, without a doubt.

Yet, he had always excelled in the art of words, while his actions often fell short. I couldn’t quite grasp what had stirred this change within him tonight.

No, that wasn’t entirely accurate. His behavior had been slightly off for some time now.

But tonight felt different, almost as if he had suddenly unearthed a profound realization.

I pulled my hand back, my gaze shifting downward to meet his. “That phone call you received at the industrial site… what did they say?”

I was convinced that call held the key to everything.

He had been ready to leave with Amell, and then, in an instant, he had changed his mind, rushing back to save me.

At my inquiry, the tenderness in his eyes deepened. “Let’s get you patched up first. We can discuss it properly when we get home.”

“Fine.” I relented, not wanting to press further, allowing the nurse to complete her work.

I had never considered myself someone with a low pain threshold, but I couldn’t help but notice the way he winced each time the antiseptic swab made contact with my broken skin.

He was feeling my pain.

Yet, I felt nothing in return. People often labeled me as soft-hearted, but those who truly understood me knew that once my mind was made up, there was no turning back.

For three long years, he had not shown me even a fraction of this kind of care.

And now, I found I didn’t want it.

By the time we exited the hospital, the first rays of dawn were beginning to pierce the night sky.

As we waited for the driver to bring the car around, Zane removed his coat and draped it over my shoulders. “I’ll take you home.”

This hospital was situated far from the heart of New York, almost on the outskirts,

And at this hour, hailing a cab would be nothing short of impossible.

I felt utterly drained after everything that had transpired. I saw no reason to complicate things further for myself. “Alright. Thank you.”

I sensed the growing distance I was creating between us, and the guilt in his eyes was unmistakable. “We’re husband and wife. This is what I should do.”

Yet, he had never done so before.

Memories surged within him—pushing her away for Amelia’s sake, leaving her behind time and again. The weight of those decisions pressed heavily on his chest, a suffocating ache.

He found himself at a loss for words, unsure of how to explain.

-I treated you coldly because I mistook someone else for you.

**Chapter 212**

Even he felt the sting of foolishness. How could he expect Elara to feel any differently?

Once we settled into the car, I struggled to stay awake, but the journey felt interminable, and my nerves were frayed from the night’s events. My head leaned against the cool glass of the window, and soon my eyelids grew heavy, pulling me down into a deep, dreamless sleep.

**Third-person POV**

The moment Elara succumbed to sleep, Zane took note.

Her right hand rested awkwardly on the car door handle, her body angled away from him, as if she were trying to create as much distance as possible.

But there had been a time when she had relied on him completely.

For a decade, she had been his quiet shadow, following him with unwavering loyalty.

She had even made a wish on her twenty-first birthday, in front of everyone, to marry him.

After their wedding, her bright, clear eyes sparkled with joy, always adorned with a smile.

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