Page 46 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
She left, leaving me with a feeling of vertigo.The Hope Foundation...My dream, my project, the embodiment of everything I believed in.How dare she interfere?How dare he let her?
I moved toward his office, each step fueling my anger and disappointment.His face lit up when he saw me, before freezing at my expression.
"Can you explain what you're doing, Tristan?"
My voice trembled with contained rage.
"Why is Audrey telling me she's going to handle the foundation?How could you do this to me?"
I saw him crumble, searching for words, avoiding my gaze before returning to it.His nervous hand running through his hair confirmed my worst fears.
"Listen, I know it's your project, but...I saw how overwhelmed you were.I thought Audrey could help you."
Each word was like a stab.This wasn't a simple error in judgment; it was a betrayal.
"Even though you know what this project means to me?You impose her on me without even consulting me?"
"Listen, she's just there to help you.She's spent a lot of time on it, just look at what she's done.I promised her, I wouldn't want to disappoint her."
Disappoint her?Those words hit me like a slap.
"No, of course not, you'd rather disappoint me."
He flinched under the violence of my remark.
"Eva, don't take things that way," he pleaded, not realizing he was digging himself deeper."Audrey is very competent.I know that, because of me, you don't have a good opinion of her, but I swear you have nothing more to fear.Just give her a chance.She just wants to suggest ideas."
I looked at him, amazed by his blindness.This project was my dream.I wanted to offer disadvantaged young people the chance I would have liked to have.And he, without the slightest hesitation, imposed Audrey on me, that ambitious bitch who saw in the foundation just one more opportunity to seize.
"You care about her that much?"I asked, my voice breaking on these words.
His eyes widened, filled with a panic that spoke volumes.
"It's not what you think," he tried to deny awkwardly.
"Yes, it's exactly what I think.How can you impose this manipulator on me?I never thought I'd say this to you, but you really disappoint me, Tristan."
He turned pale under the violence of my words, unable to retaliate.He wavered, but it brought me no satisfaction.I was too stunned, as if a truck had hit me head-on.Without another word, I left his office, my heart in tatters.
I was suffocating.I needed air.Without even thinking, I called Marco.He immediately understood from my voice that something was wrong.Fifteen minutes later, we were driving to Versailles, the silence in the car only disturbed by my still ragged breathing.
The park was peaceful, almost empty at this hour.For more than an hour, I walked aimlessly, letting nature gradually calm the chaos in my mind.Marco followed at a respectful distance, a discreet and reassuring presence.
I had never felt so lost.The love I had for Tristan was so deeply anchored in me that the very idea of losing him made me dizzy.But how to fight against the evidence?How to ignore those looks he gave Audrey, the way he protected her, even at the expense of my feelings?
Returning to the car, the world suddenly tilted.My legs gave way beneath me, and without Marco's quickness, I would have collapsed.
"Eva, are you all right?"
His voice betrayed genuine concern.
"Yes, everything's fine, it's passed."
In the car, his gaze in the rearview mirror didn't leave me.
"I'm not your father, but you should see a doctor."
His tone allowed no reply.I attempted a reassuring smile.
