Page 12 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

Worthington smiled politely as he strode across the space to open a set of double doors leading into a well-appointed space.

“Wow, this place is super cute. Very quaint,” Sierra said with a smile.

“Quaint?” Alicia asked with a wrinkled nose.

“Yeah, quaint. It’s so…small and cozy.”

“Thisis what you consider small?” Ethan questioned as they shuffled into the living room.

“Obviously,” she answered with a frown.

“May I bring anyone a drink?” Worthington asked.

“I’d like some answers,” Alicia said. “Do you have any of those?”

“I will leave you to talk,” the man said as he pulled the doors closed behind him.

Alicia offered her sister a pointed glance, her features painting a portrait of the extent of her unhappiness.

Grant pulled Julia a little closer to him. His impression of Alicia wasn’t changing much. He didn’t care for the woman. “I think maybe we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.”

The lighter-haired sister flicked her gaze from Julia to him. “Yeah, I’d say so. I’d really like to know why my sister got married over a year ago but said nothing to me about it. Ever. Despite there being many opportunities.”

“I can explain,” Julia answered, her upset obvious from the shakiness of her voice.

“Yeah, you keep saying that, Juju, but I haven’t heard an explanation yet. I just can’t believe you would do this. We even talked about your relationship status. And you just said nothing.” She crossed her arms, twisting to face her husband. “And I can’t believe you didn’t notice this when you saw her last year.”

The man shrugged as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and shifted his boot-clad feet on the floor. “She didn’t say anything to me.”

“Some cop you are. You could see that ring across town.”

“She didn’t have that on when I saw her!” he defended.

Alicia snapped her gaze to her sister. “So…”

Julia winced. “I took the rings off when I met with Ethan.”

The annoyed glance Alicia gave her could stop a train. “So, you not only didn’t tell us, but you deliberately took steps to keep it from us.”

“I think you’re being a little harsh here,” Grant said.

Alicia sent an incredulous glare his way. “I’m not really interested in your opinion.”

“I just think we all need to take it down a notch,” he shot back, his dislike for her sister growing by the minute.

“And I think you need to back off. This is my sister. My family.”

“She’s actually my family now,” he answered, feeling Julia tense next to him.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Sierra said. “She’smystep-mommy. And you should be nicer to her.”

“I have to agree,” Kyle chimed in. “This conversation seems like it’s very upsetting to Julia.”

“And who are you again?” Alicia spat.

Sierra crossed her arms, cocking a hip. “That’s Kyle. Julia’s stepson.”

“Also, her physician. And I think she’s had enough stress for the day.”