Page 135 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

Worthington awaited him as they stepped inside. “And how is Mrs. Harrington, sir?”

The words stung him, and he shook his head as he cleared his throat, trying desperately to find the words.

“Physically, she’s probably fine, but we wouldn’t know,” Kyle answered, his voice sharp and cutting. “We can’t see her.”

“Keep your voice down. I don’t want Sierra to overhear this,” Grant hissed at him.

“Is Mrs. Harrington’s family still restricting her visitors?”

Kyle wagged a finger at the man. “Wait a minute, Worthington. Worthington can go see her.”

“They are not going to let that happen,” Grant said.

“Why not? Surely, she didn’t file a restraining order against Worthington.”

“Mrs. Harrington filed a restraining order against you?”

Grant heaved a sigh as the words cut through him for the second time today. The reality sank in, constricting his chest as though an invisible hand squeezed his heart. His palms turned sweaty, and a cold shiver ran down his spine. “Yes. We were informed of it when we went to the hospital. Both me and Kyle.”

“That doesn’t sound like Mrs. Harrington.”

Grant scoffed at the words. “Well, whether it does or doesn’t, it happened. And they’re never going to let Worthington in there, either. He’s not family.”

“Good point. So, we’re back to the sneaking in in scrubs option.”

“No, we’re not,” Grant said with a shake of his head, defeat coursing through him. “I’m not going to force Julia into seeing us if she doesn’t want to.”

“But, Dad–“

“Don’t,” Grant said with a shake of his head. “I’m going up to check on Sierra.”

“Well, don’t be too long. We need a plan here.”

“There are no plans, Kyle. Julia doesn’t want to see us. What part of that don’t you understand?”

Kyle scrunched his features. “The part where she doesn’t want to see us. It makes no sense.”

“I think it makes perfect sense. This trip has been a disaster. In your estimation, she’s spent sixteen months trapped in hell with me. And then we came back to all the warmth and familiarity of her hometown–and her ex that she never got over. And now, she wants nothing to do with us.”

“But, see, that doesn’t add up. I kidnapped her…ish. And she still talked to me. She was actually really nice about it. And then, I kissed her, and you threw me out. And she still talked to me. And then–“

“I remember, Kyle. I remember. But that’s not the case now.”

“That makes no sense. The turning point was seeing her ex-boyfriend?That’swhat turned her against me?”

Grant let his eyes slide closed as he shook his head. “She doesn’t want to be part of this family anymore. And her sister probably convinced her to extend that to you and Julia agreed because she knew you’d do something crazy.”

“Well, someone needs to do something crazy right now.”

Grant waved his hands in the air in defeat. “I’m not having this conversation with you. I’m going up to spend time with Sierra. At least that worked out.” He twisted to face Worthington, holding the rings out to the man. “Can you handle these?”

Worthington held them in his palm as Grant strode past him, unable to deal with the situation. He didn’t care what the man did with them as long as he never saw them again. He wanted no reminders of this relationship. None. He couldn’t bear it.

Kyle’s insistent voice called after him. “We can’t give up!”

But he felt like a man adrift in a sea of despair, unable to see the shore, let alone reach it.

He pondered sending Worthington home early to scrub the house of memories of Julia: the wedding photo on his desk, the massive picture in the living room, anything from her bedroom.