Page 45 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
Audrey, on the other hand, knew exactly what she was doing.I recalled her triumphant smile when she told me about the necklace, her calculated way of emphasizing that Tristan had fastened it for her.Every word had been chosen to hurt me.
But wasn't I lying to myself?Desperately seeking excuses for Tristan?The images of their complicity before Oslo came back to me like so many stabs: their shared laughter, their hushed conversations, the way he looked at her.
In the dawn light, I let the memories flood me.Our first meeting, that immediate spark between us.Our crazy dreams of creating something together.The birth of Community Pilot, those sleepless nights spent working side by side, our victories celebrated together or with our friends, those moments of doubt when one supported the other unfailingly.Seven years of life together.Seven years of love built stone by stone.
Could I really let a doubt, however legitimate, destroy all that?
A certainty slowly emerged from this emotional chaos: as long as I had no irrefutable proof of his betrayal, I would fight.Not out of desperation or blindness, but because our story deserved that chance.What we had built together was worth more than a moment of doubt.
28.You'd rather disappoint me
EVA
I heard Tristan get up at seven.Like me, he had only slept a few hours.The night had been long, filled with swirling thoughts and dull anxieties.I got up and went to the adjoining bathroom to freshen up.The mirror reflected the image of a face marked by insomnia, with dark circles and a pale complexion.Yet I couldn't stay hidden forever.I had to face this day, face Tristan.
I found him standing in front of the coffee machine.As I approached, he looked up and our eyes met.I saw in his a vulnerability I had never seen before, as if his usual confidence had collapsed since yesterday morning.He didn't speak, waiting for me to decide our future.
Without a word, I moved toward him and nestled in his arms, granting by this gesture the forgiveness he dared not hope for.I felt relief unknot each of his muscles as he embraced me.I breathed in his familiar scent and let the warmth of his body warm my soul.We remained like this for a long moment, as if the outside world had ceased to exist.
We spent a peaceful Sunday.Tristan ordered Korean food for brunch, probably guessing that I hadn't eaten anything the day before.The meal took place in relatively comfortable silence, and we spent the rest of the day lying down, enjoying each other's presence.He made love to me with an almost desperate tenderness.Out of cowardice, neither of us mentioned the necklace again.Because, even if Tristan chose me, I knew that his emotional state remained confused, that his attraction to Audrey had not disappeared despite his efforts to remain faithful to me.I didn't want him to lie to reassure me.I wanted to give him time to come back to me.
Monday morning, I was surprised to see him still at home when I got up for breakfast.He took the time to hug me for a long time and breathe in my scent before kissing me on the lips.
"Shall I make you coffee?"he suggested, with a smile in his voice.
"Yes, please.Aren't you going to train with Satoshi?"
"No, I told him.He cursed me because I'm leaving him alone with the coach."
I snickered, briefly rediscovering our former complicity.
"He's definitely not going to forget it!"
After breakfast, taken in a comfortable but fragile silence, I took my shower and got dressed.Tristan was waiting for me in the living room.
"You look beautiful," he said softly, his gaze sliding over my dress that gracefully embraced my figure.
I smiled and kissed him possessively, immediately provoking his desire, before stepping out onto the landing and escaping into the elevator, bursting out laughing.He joined me before the doors closed and took advantage of the descent to devour my mouth.When the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, we were both breathless.
We went to the office in separate cars, each with our own driver.This physical distance, imposed by our choice to keep our relationship secret, weighed on me more and more.But I no longer dared to talk to him about it since the time he had dodged my request to make our relationship official at the office.The pain I had felt that day remained like a poorly healed wound.
Mid-morning, the door to my office opened abruptly, and Audrey entered.
"Eva, where did you put the Hope Foundation file?"she asked, with the arrogant tone she reserved only for me.
"Why does that concern you?"
"Tristan wants me to handle the foundation partnership, and I have an important meeting with Epsilon Ventures.I also wanted to see the whole project before finalizing the inauguration speech."
It took me three seconds to fully grasp what she had just said.No, it was impossible.He would never have done that to me.Not him.Not Tristan!
"Stop making things up," I replied, clinging to my certainty."Tristan would never do such a thing.This project is mine."
"You think you know him so well, don't you?"
Her voice dripped with condescension.
"You can check with him if you want.And when you've done that, send me all the elements by email."
