Page 36 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

“Everything okay here, Dad?” Kyle asked as he joined the fray.

The situation spiraled out of Julia’s control faster than she expected. Time slowed as she pictured another bar brawl, only this time it seemed Kyle and Grant had finally found a common enemy. Her eyes blinked closed as her vision blurred.

Luke’s grip pulled her closer. “Julia, let’s go–“

She didn’t hear the rest of his statement as overwhelm threatened to bring her senses crashing down around her. Before she drowned in the rocky sea of her emotions, she found herself moving forward, pushing past the others in the restaurant until the cool evening air smacked her in the face.

She gulped it in as she flung herself against the wooden railing.

“Julia?”

Grant’s voice startled her, and she snapped her gaze to him, still feeling unsteady. “Can we go home?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

His features pinched with concern as he nodded while Kyle spilled out of the restaurant behind him. “Yeah.”

He slid his arm around her shoulders as he spoke to Kyle. “Get Sierra.”

Kyle nodded as they wandered down the few steps to the car waiting below. She slipped inside, wishing she could melt into the supple leather seat as it surrounded her.

Silence stretched between them during the short ride as Julia kept her eyes trained on the passing scenery. She’d experienced all too well the effects of returning to Harbor Cove. But her life was different now.

So very different.

But one question haunted her. Should she never have left?

The car eased to a stop next to her Jeep which brought another flood of memories to her. She burst from the inside, practically running for the house. She didn’t stop until she’d shut herself in her room.

She collapsed on the bed, her mind whirling with memories from moments ago, weeks ago, and years ago all crowding into her brain and vying for attention. The rustic charm of the Hungry Pelican, so familiar and full of memories, stood in stark contrast to her polished, yet emotionally distant life in New Orleans.

Her stomach rolled as emotions ebbed and flowed in her. She’d grown to love the people she lived with, but that would be ripped away from her in eight months. Meanwhile, Luke remained interested and ready to move forward. At least that’s how it had seemed to her the way he’d looked at her. Would he still be there in eight months?

She shook her head. It wasn’t fair to ask that of him. She couldn’t live out her marriage with Grant with the expectation of returning to Luke. Her head ached as tears threatened.

A knock at the door startled her, and she quickly blinked them away. “Julia?” Grant’s voice called.

“I’m fine,” she answered without moving off of the mattress.

“Are you sure? You seemed upset.”

“I’m just tired,” she answered. She had no desire to answer the door and face him. Not when she was this much of an emotional wreck. She’d been the stable one in the relationship. And he certainly hadn’t signed up for this emotional rollercoaster. She was merely there to provide a happy household to convince the naysayers that he still deserved to be in charge.

“Well, if you need to talk, I’m here.”

“Thanks,” she called before she sank back into her pillows, grateful to have sidestepped the conversation.

After a second, she wandered to the window and slid it open a few inches, allowing the gentle waves lapping at the rocky shore to soothe her.

Another knock sounded, and her shoulders slumped. She wondered if she’d get away with not opening the door to him a second time.

“Julia?” Kyle questioned.

“I’m fine,” she answered, hoping the same trick worked on him.

“We both know that’s not true.”

Julia held back a sigh, pressing her lips together.

“If you don’t open the door, I’m going to open it.”