Page 106 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

“No, your mother doesn’t seem to care deeply about others like you do. You’re not like your mother. You’re more like your father.”

“But you hate him now.”

Julia smiled at her and shook her head. “I don’t hate him. I never hated him. We had an argument, Sierra. It happens all the time.”

“And then people leave.”

“Not always.” Julia grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Just because your mother left, doesn’t mean everyone will.”

Sierra stared down at their clasped hands. “Do you promise?”

Julia nodded. “I promise. I’ll always be there for you, okay? No matter what.”

Sierra swiped a hand across her cheek, streaking dirt across her skin. Julia dug a tissue from a packet in her pocket andwiped it away along with some of the smudged makeup that marred her skin. “Feel better?”

Sierra nodded. “Yes, but I’m still scared. They’re going to find us, right?”

“Yes,” Julia assured her as Sierra laid her head back on her shoulder. “Luke knows we’re out here. He’ll make sure we’re found.”

“Daddy, too,” Sierra said with a shuddering breath.

“Yes, I’m certain Grant will not stop searching until he’s found you.”

Sierra’s eyes slid closed as she clutched at Julia’s hand. “And you, Julia.”

Her stepdaughter’s breathing turned rhythmic as she drifted off to a much-needed nap after her harrowing morning. As she sat holding a sleeping Sierra, Julia reflected on the surreal events. From a peaceful morning at sea to dangling on a cliff’s edge and now trapped in a cave–it felt like a nightmare. But part of her knew they would survive. Not just because of Luke and Grant, but because of a new resilience within her. One that would fight for what was hers–including her life.

The chirps of birds outside signaled the end of the storm. She strained to listen for any sounds of people, not wanting to miss the chance to call out to them.

With any luck, they could enlarge the opening enough to free them easily.

After a while, Sierra roused next to her, sitting up to rub her eyes. “No one yet?”

“Not yet. Hopefully soon. The rain stopped.”

“So, they’ll come now, right?”

“Yes, but they’ll probably start closer to where we fell. We just need to–"

Her words cut off as she detected what she thought was a shout. Her heart skipped a beat, and she crawled toward the opening, straining to listen. “That’s them. Sierra, that’s them!”

She pressed her face closer to the small opening in the rocks blocking the exit. “Luke?”

“Julia! Sierra!” a voice called, still searching.

“Ally! Luke! We’re trapped in the cave.”

She sat back on her haunches as she turned her head to listen again.

“Julia!” Ally’s voice called.

“Ally! We’re here in the cave.”

Her heart pounded harder as no one answered her. Had they gone the wrong way? Had they not heard her?

“Julia?” Ally’s voice sounded again. “Julia, if you can hear me, answer!”

“I can hear you, Ally! I’m here!”