Page 26 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
"Listen, Eva, I've had enough of all these discussions that lead nowhere," he said wearily."It's pointless.I don't have the energy for this right now.As long as you persist in wanting to deprive me of my assistant, we won't find common ground.I refuse to revisit this."
His words fell like cleavers, precise and deadly.And I understood that for him, the problem was no longer our relationship, but my "jealousy" of Audrey.This realization was painful.
I know I had my share of responsibility in this situation.Tristan is a proud and arrogant man; I shouldn't have confronted him head-on and challenged his choices with such vehemence.By pushing back, I had closed the door to any constructive discussion and pushed him to harden his position.
Despite this, I knew he loved me.We just needed to find our way back to each other.I just didn't know how.
15.Enduring in silence
TRISTAN
Audrey was exceptional.Her latest triumph was securing a major contract, the client utterly charmed by her professionalism and natural allure.To celebrate, we organized a dinner that stretched late into the night, filled with lively discussions and bursts of laughter.
After saying goodbye to the client, I walked Audrey to her SUV, parked just a few steps away from the restaurant.Suddenly, she closed the distance between us, her eyes searching mine as her hand rested on my chest.The unexpected touch sent a wave of conflicting emotions through me—surprise and something else I refused to name.My heart pounded, but the thought of Eva snapped me back to reality.I gently took Audrey’s hand and moved it away.
“I hope I haven’t given you the wrong impression, Audrey,” I said carefully.“You’re an incredible woman, but I’m in a relationship.I care too much about what I have to risk it.Nothing can ever happen between us.”
She lowered her gaze, a flush creeping up her cheeks.“I’m so sorry, Tristan,” she murmured.“I don’t know what came over me.It was a mistake… It won’t happen again.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for.It’s already forgotten,” I replied, trying to defuse the awkwardness between us.
Audrey never tried again, but I couldn’t ignore the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn’t watching.That flicker in her eyes when we were alone created a barely perceptible but undeniable tension.I should have put a definitive end to it, but something held me back.Maybe the belief that the attraction would fade on its own, or the confidence that I could maintain the necessary boundaries.
At another time, I would have told Eva about it.But our relationship was already strained enough without adding Audrey’s misguided advance to the mix.I convinced myself that silence was the better choice.
It was 10:30 PM when I stepped into our penthouse, my mind still clouded by the wine and the night’s conversations.Eva stood in the living room, a motionless silhouette against the city lights.Even before she spoke, I could feel the tension in the air, that familiar electricity before a fight.
“You’re late,” she said, her voice ice-cold, without even turning around.
“What is that supposed to mean?”I shot back, irritated by the interrogation.“What exactly are you accusing me of?”
She finally turned, her eyes shining with barely contained anger.“Do you realize it’s past ten?I’ve been waiting for you for hours.Were you so busy you couldn’t take a second to call or text me?”
Frustration flared inside me, fueled by exhaustion.“Look, you’re right.I should have messaged you,” I admitted.“But it’s been a draining day, Eva.I don’t need you adding to it.”
My voice trembled with frustration.I knew I should have let her know about dinner with the client, but I was too drained to deal with her jealousy, her doubts, her veiled accusations.
“I’m exhausted,” I exhaled.“If you’re done, I’d like to take a shower and go to bed.”
The silence that followed said more than any words could.I saw the way her eyes glistened before she turned away, the door to the guest room slamming shut like a verdict.
I stood there for a moment, a bitter taste in my mouth.As I made my way to the kitchen island to grab a glass of water, I noticed a covered plate on the table.Guilt tightened in my throat.Eva had cooked for me, waited for me… I placed the plate in the fridge.
Under the hot shower, I let the water run over my tense shoulders, hoping it would wash away the unease clinging to me.When I stepped out, I hoped Eva would have changed her mind and come back to our bed, but it was empty.
I barely slept that night, tossing and turning in a bed that suddenly felt too big.The memory of Eva’s tear-filled eyes weighed heavily on my chest, guilt gnawing at me like a slow poison.At dawn, unable to take it anymore, I slipped into the guest room.The open shutters let in a bluish light, casting an almost surreal glow over the space.Eva didn’t move, but the tension in her shoulders betrayed that she was awake.Without a word, I lay down beside her and wrapped my arms around her.She stiffened for a moment before melting into me, as if her body had decided to forgive before her mind did.
“I’m sorry for hurting you, Eva,” I murmured against her neck.“I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.You were right, I should have told you about dinner.I’ll be more mindful next time.”
“I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that either,” she whispered, regret lacing her voice.“I just wanted to spend time with you last night.I miss you, Tristan.We barely see each other anymore, we barely talk.”
“I miss you too.”
In the silence that followed, I felt her body tremble slightly against mine.
“Sometimes, I feel like you’re slipping away, and it terrifies me,” she admitted, her voice cracking.
Her confession squeezed my heart.I held her tighter, as if I could physically erase her fears.
