Page 128 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

Ethan stepped out of the door, clapping the officer on the shoulder. “Thanks, Eric. Hi, Grant…and Kyle.”

“Ethan, thank goodness you’re here, can you explain why this guy is telling me I can’t come inside the hospital and see my own wife?”

“I thought that was clear last night,” Ethan said. “Alicia told you it was over.”

Grant narrowed his eyes, tugging his eyebrows together. “Uh, ah. And I understand she’s upset, but…Julia and I are still married. And I’d like to see her.”

“I’m afraid that’s impossible.”

“You can’t stop me from seeing her. And I’m pretty certain Julia wouldn’t want you to.”

“Actually, I can stop you. I can arrest you if you come within fifty feet of Julia.”

Grant’s heart skipped a beat. “What?”

“I think you heard me.”

“Are you saying that…”

Ethan bobbed his head. “Judge approved the emergency restraining order this morning. It’s over, Grant.”

Grant’s heart sank. They’d just come together for his daughter’s sake, and now she’d filed a restraining order.

“No, Julia wouldn’t do that. I don’t believe you.”

“You can violate it and spend the night in jail before you meet the judge who signed it. Maybe you’ll believe him.”

“Okay, fine,” Kyle said as he pushed in front of Grant. “I want to see Julia.”

“You can’t honestly believe there wasn’t one filed against the man who kidnapped her.”

“I didn’t kidnap her,” Kyle insisted. “I just…kept her for a little while.”

“Why do you all keep describing it like that? If you took her against her will, it was kidnapping. Look, I’m not going to debate this with you. Pack up your crazy circus and get out of my town.” Ethan dug into his pocket, produced Julia’s wedding and engagement ring, and handed them back to Grant before he turned to the uniformed officer. “If they cause any trouble, arrest them and lose the key.”

“Ethan!” Grant called as the man disappeared back into the hospital.

“Sir,” the officer said, holding up a hand. “I’m going to ask you to leave the premises, or I’ll have to arrest you.”

Grant stared at him for a minute before he backed away.

“Are you serious?” Kyle asked. “You’re walking away?”

“What choice do we have? Julia fired a restraining order against both of us.”

Kyle’s voice hardened. “You’re just going to give up and let her slip away? After everything? This is not the Grant Harrington I know. The slash-and-burn, everything-about-himself guy who doesn’t care what other people want.”

Grant huffed out a breath as he flung his arms out. “What do you suggest, Kyle? Bursting in there like a hero in a B-movie? This is real life.”

He spun on his heel and crossed to the car. Kyle hurried after him, his brow furrowed.

Grant’s stomach twisted into a knot as he slid into the car, his mind a whirlwind of memories and regrets. Did he push her too far? He hadn’t thought their argument had been that bad, but now it pressed down on him like a physical weight. He’d had far worse arguments with exes. He’d always fixed it, except when he hadn’t wanted to. But this time he wanted to, and he didn’t have the chance. He stared down at the rings in his hand. Was this unfixable?

CHAPTER 28

JULIA

The nostalgic familiarity of her old home couldn’t ease the burden she carried in her heart. Every footstep on the old hardwood floors echoed with a mix of memories of a life she once lived there. A life she would live again.