A Billionaire's Revenge and Redemption

es she'd baked for Liam , her boyfriend. Restless, she checked her ph

e feeding her unease. Something must have happened to keep him from

ef flooded through her; at least he was home. But one question lingered stubb

greet her with his usual warmth-his easy smile, his familiar charm that always

. Maybe he was wrapped up in work, she thought. Liam was always busy, often lo

ok another breath, her fingers tightening slightly around the pastry box, willing herself

r face partly hidden behind a scarf, with only her eyes visible. Those eyes glinted with a mischievous sparkl

there. His expression shifted from surprise to discomfort, the mask of ease slipping from his face. The disheveled look of both

, brushed past Elena with a casual, almost dismissive glance.

s swirling. Her eyes darted from the woman's retreati

omach churned with the realization of what she had just walked into, but anger quickly took hold, overriding the initial

rt pounding wildly. The betrayal she felt was immense, yet her voice

r now laced with guilt. He gave a weak shrug, as though he was

er was obvious. "Look, Elena, it's just that... you didn't want to do th

ing for any hint of remorse or apology in his eyes, but found nothing except a careless indifference. She

"You think that justifies this? You'r

didn't think you'd understand. You're always busy with school an

g was somehow her fault, made her blood boil. Her hands clenched

nd steady. "I trusted you, Liam. I though

, I was t

s so dramatic, Elena. This isn't some novel you're writing; this is rea

educed everything she'd worked for-her dreams, her efforts, her loyalty-to n

" she said coldly, h

I'm done wasting any more of it on you.

oon as she reached the street, the composure she clung to began to shatter. Her fists tightened as she forced herself to keep moving,

r mind a whirlwind of emotions barely held in check. Betrayal, anger, h

thing, she wanted to erase this moment, to rid herself of the memo

tterly lost, as if everything she had once believed in had been torn away in a single, brutal moment. Yet somewhere deep within, a new resolve was har

ars from her cheeks. She didn't know exactly what lay ahead, but one thing was

houghts, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Li

e tension Elena hadn't even realized she was holding onto. She hesitated for a moment, but knew she needed someone to

ne in the corner, looking small and adrift. Lily walked over

asked softly, her eyes

she managed to speak. "He cheated on me,

ike him, Elena," she said gently, her tone radiating the kind of support Elena h

, managing a weak smile that b

ed, feeling a sliver of rel

tomorrow is my birthday, and I need you there with me, r

ea

er. Looking at Lily, who always seemed to understand a

d, her voice steadier now.