Page 77 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
The silence stretched.
"I assume you want something in exchange for the information," I guessed, observing her.
An icy smile stretched her lips.
"I want to run the Hope Foundation."
I laughed joylessly.Her audacity truly had no limits.
"You can't be serious.That's out of the question.It's Eva's decision who runs that project.Why are you so fixated?You've never shown genuine interest in this project, so why?"
She remained silent, staring at me with disturbing intensity.And suddenly, everything became clear.
"Why are you targeting Eva?What has she done to you?"I asked, my voice betraying my growing anger.
Audrey pursed her lips, her gaze charging with hatred.
"Why?"she spat."It's because of that little Miss Perfect that you constantly reject me, and you still dare ask why?"
Her voice trembled with contained rage.I took another sip to give myself time to think.
"What's your problem, Audrey?Daddy abandoned you, so now you can't handle a man saying no?"I mocked.
Her face collapsed for a second before fury and humiliation inflamed her gaze.
Damn, I had hit the mark.
"It doesn't matter what you believe, Tristan.Either you give me control of the foundation, or I let Aron Capital dismantle Community Pilot, brick by brick."
So it was indeed Aron Capital pulling the strings.
"What proof do you have?"
"Lazarus approached me and I recorded our conversation.On the tape he admits being behind the cyberattacks, but you'll only get this recording in exchange for the foundation."
I looked at her with barely contained contempt.
"There's something you don't understand, Audrey.I love Eva more than my own life.For her, I'm ready to risk Community Pilot if necessary.Companies, I can rebuild.But Eva...Eva is everything to me."
She stared at me, eyes sparkling with hatred mixed with an emotion I couldn't decipher.Suddenly, my vision blurred.The room oscillated around me, the contours becoming fuzzy.I squinted, trying to regain my balance.
"Tristan?Are you feeling alright?"
Her voice seemed tinged with artificial concern.
"I..."I articulated with difficulty."What's..."
I tried to straighten up, but a strange torpor numbed my limbs.My mind was fogging.The room slowly tilted around me.I stepped back, my legs giving way.
"You should have chosen me, Tristan," she whispered, rising with calculated slowness."But since you didn't, I'm going to destroy what's most precious to you."
I tried to fight against the wave of torpor rising within me, but my body no longer obeyed me.My vision darkened further, my eyelids becoming heavy.
"What...what did you do to me?"I stammered, my tongue thick.
She leaned over me, her face lighting up with an almost tender smile.
"Nothing, for now," she breathed, placing her hand on my chest before pressing her lips against mine.
