Betrayed I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87

I had no energy to keep engaging with her act. I looked directly at the old lady. “Grandmother, the police are already investigating this.”

“Don’t twist the facts!” Amelia’s voice rose, full of false outrage. “You were the only one there when Max got hurt! If it wasn’t you, who was it? And you haven’t even visited him in the hospital–isn’t that a sign of guilt?”

I was almost amused by her absurd logic.

The old lady’s sharp gaze turned to me. “Elara, is what she’s saying true?”

“I was there, but I didn’t-”

“Enough!” she cut me off coldly. “No matter what issues you have with Amelia, the child is innocent. With so many guests here tonight, you will go to the old guest room in the west wing and reflect on your behavior until morning.”

That room–tucked away in the backyard–hadn’t been updated in decades. No thermostat, damp walls, a lingering chill that seeped into your bones. It wasn’t the Windsor family’s gravel courtyard, but spending a night there in winter could easily lead to fever.

I glanced at Zane. His indifference was a cold blade. A bitter smile touched my lips.

“Grandmother, I was trying to hel-”

Just as I started to defend myself, a murmur rippled through the crowd near the staircase.

The Graysons turned almost in one motion, and my eyes followed.

Gavin had arrived.

He stood at the center of it all, the political and business elite orbiting him like planets around a sun Dressed in a sharp black custom–tailored suit with a vintage tie and sapphire cufflinks that glinted under the chandeliers, he looked every inch the untouchable heir.

Those gold–rimmed glasses and that severe sweep of hair only sharpened his already defined features. But it was the eyes that got you–sapphire–blue and sharp enough to strip away every pretense in the room.

He moved through the Grayson ballroom like he owned the place.

When someone greeted him, he just rested a hand casually on the carved staircase newel, long fingers tapping a slow, absent rhythm against the wood.

The Windsor heir never went unnoticed. But tonight, he wasn’t flying solo.

Vera stood beside him in a stunning Chanel gown with a fitted mermaid silhouette, the onyx crystals scattered across it catching the light.

She was elegance personified, her arm tucked in his, a perfectly calibrated smile on her lips.

His girlfriend… So it was Vera.

Elegant. Composed. She suited him,

I calmly looked away, just as the old lady greeted him warmly. “I didn’t expect you to come in person.”

“If I didn’t,” Gavin replied, his tone light but edged, “who would step in when my sister is being so openly slandered?”

The room went utterly silent.

It was the first time since our fallout that he had publicly acknowledged me as his sister.

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Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother

39.4%

Chapter 87

His sapphire gaze cut through the crowd and landed on me, almost soothing, as if saying, “Don’t sweat it. I’m here. No one’s gonna mess with you now.”

Back in the day, that would’ve hit me right in the feels. But now? I’m done leaning on people. I squared my shoulders and fed myself the truth–Elara, cut that “he’s here to save you” crap. He’s just making an appearance at a birthday party, keeping up the Windsor family rep. With that, I broke eye contact completely.

Maybe it was because Gavin’s words were too sharp, too real–nobody dared to speak up next. The Old Lady gave a light cough, trying to cue me to step in and smooth things over.

Pfft… But why should I? Weren’t you the one pointing fingers just a minute ago?

The old Elara wouldve played nice, swallowed her pride for the sake of harmony. But now? I’m putting myself first. Loving myself. Done with all the unreasonable demands.

When she realized I wasn’t budging, the Old Lady looked shook. But there was nothing she could do–so her eyes slid over to Amelia.

Amelia clenched her hands, voice tense. “Gavin, I was only speculating earlier. I didn’t mean to falsely accuse Elara.”

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