Betrayed I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 97

Maybe it was the guilt over the Max incident.

Or perhaps it was the weight of everything he’d always owed me.

Faced with my softly pleading gaze, he hesitated only a moment before notding. “Alright.”

But thinking of how much the four leaf clover pendant meant to Amelia, he gently reminded me, “Please take good care of it for now. Be careful not to damage it.”

“Mm.” I nodded, my expression serious.

He reached out and patted my head. “Alright, eat up. Let me know if you like it.”

“Okay.”

For once, I ate this meal willingly.

Having found what mattered most, even my appetite improved.

When we left the restaurant, it was still early.

But New York in winter gets dark fast. The streets were already glowing, neon lights flashing against the night.

We walked side by side toward the car. Zane, ever the gentleman, held the door open for me. “Let’s go. It’s rare we can head home together tonight.”

My hands were tucked deep in my coat pockets, fingers gently tracing the curves of the four–leaf clover pendant.

My mind was racing, trying to find a reasonable, natural way to turn Zane down.

From the moment I moved out of Xianglin Garden, I’d decided I would never go back–not even for a single night, not even for show.

Just as I was wracking my brain, my phone buzzed in my other pocket.

Before I even saw the screen, I’d already decided–no matter who it was or what they said, I’d use this as my exit.

Even if it was a telemarketer.

“Hello, Chloe?”

It wasn’t a robocall. It was Chloe.

It was like she had a sixth sense. Her voice was bright and cheerful. “You off work? No overtime tonight, right? Get back here quick–I’ve got a surprise for you!”

“A surprise?” I was puzzled.

Chloe lowered her voice mysteriously. “Yeah, hurry. You’ve got twenty minutes or you’ll miss it.”

“Okay, I’m on my way.”

I hung up, let out a quiet breath, and turned to Zane with an apologetic look. “Chloe needs me. You go ahead back.”

He’d overheard enough.

It really was Chloe.

10:00

Betrayed? I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother

44.0%

Chapter 97

But Zane wasn’t stupid. The moment I turned away, I heard him swallow hard before he asked, “Elara you moved out a long time ago, didn’t you?”

My whole body went stiff.

I never expected him to ask–or maybe I’d just gotten used to Zane ignoring anything to do with me as a person. It never occurred to me he’d notice something was off.

Then again, during those three years, he was often absent from home for long stretches, too.

He was busy.

So busy he forgot he had a wife.

I steadied myself and turned back to face him. “How did you know?”

“I guessed.”

When I didn’t even try to deny it, he didn’t look surprised–but I saw his chest tighten, as if something heavy were sitting on it, making it hard to breathe.

I offered a faint smile. “I didn’t think you’d notice.”

He stared at me, and that suffocating feeling made him frown. “Am I really that incompetent?”

“You’re plenty competent,” I said, my smile growing a little clearer. “Just not with me.”

He hadn’t been a competent husband.

But he’d been a very competent lover.

I said it plainly, but to Zane, it must have sounded like sarcasm.

He let out a slow breath, as if trying to ease the weight on his chest. “I’ll have her move out as soon as possible.”

“Then I’ll come pick you up. So you can come home.”

“We’ll see.”

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