Betrayed by My Billionaire

of the cafeteria, staring absently at her cappuccino and trying to ignore the tension in the air. Ever since the gala night, a constant weight had

ng in her. An insecurity she couldn't shake. Today, Derek was busy in a marathon meeting, and sh

Lila, ar

an she had passed several times in the Stanford Enterprises offices. She

a replied, a polite

n across from her without waiting to be prompted

a seemed nice, but there was a sparkle in her eyes th

said cautiously. "

"I just wanted to warn you. Clara J

heard the name uttered with a hint of warning, but she hadn't

he asked, trying to k

and Derek have a long history, and let's just say that relationship doesn't go away easily. She

mplying that she's a thr

"All I'm saying is you should be careful. Derek is a powerful

in her chest. Amanda seemed sincere, but she couldn't ignore th

he finally said, her voice

ith a satisfied smile. "You're welcome

ing Lila alone with h

s, a man named Ryan, called out to her in the lobby. Ryan was younger than Derek,

aching. "I heard you were a

on her face. "Yes, it was

hat's a polite way of saying it must

asant shiver down Lila's s

knows Clara always had a hold on Derek. They had a complicated

de her, but she kept her cool. "Dere

t one to give up. She knows how to pl

fore walking away, leaving her al

ticked by. When he finally came in, she felt a wave of conflicting feelings wash over her:

y?" he asked, ki

, crossing her arms. "D

utting down his briefc

r courage. "I heard things at the off

lightly. "Lila, I told you Clara was a thing of

haking with emotion. "Amanda warned me to be wary of her, and Ryan told me you

hese people love to gossip. They don't know anythin

nsisted, her gaze piercing. "

eyes locked with hers. Then he

se, complicated, and it ended a long time ago. But

d, tears welling up in her eyes. "Why i

is the kind of person who refuses to disappear. She likes to b

r kept whispering that everything wasn't as simple as he made

be honest with me. If something's wrong, if

heek. "I promise I'm with you, Li

but wonder if she was turning a blind eye t