Page 6 of Bliss with a Billionaire

JULIA

The icy, sterile air of the hospital surrounded her, sending a chill down her spine as Julia skirted past hospital staff on her way back to her stepson’s hospital room. Grant had received yet another urgent call from Mike Donovan as they continued to battle against the hostile takeover attempt orchestrated by Lydia through DG Industries.

The weight of the situation wore on him. His nerves had been taut since the situation started, and she wasn’t certain she’d noticed any release in them since he’d finally confided in her.

He had been desperately trying to conceal the situation, afraid she’d bolt in the face of adversity. But their relationship had been forged in the fires of difficulty.

She’d reassured him about the strength of their partnership, needing to hear the words herself. She hadn’t said them out loud when they’d spoken about their relationship. And she’d forced an unfair restriction on it–one that had made the situation worse rather than better.

In a desperate attempt to give her a perfect life, he’d withheld the issues he faced at Harrington Global.

She sighed as she stepped into the hospital room, the constant beep of the heart monitor a comforting sound announcing her stepson’s continued life.

Sierra slept in a chair near the bed, her head propped in her palm. Julia smiled at her as she crossed as slid a lock of hair away from her stepdaughter’s face.

She sucked in a breath and squinted up at her. “Good morning, step-mommy,” she whispered.

“Good morning,” Julia answered as she pulled Sierra closer and kissed the top of her head. “Did you get any sleep?”

“Yeah. How about you?”

Julia nodded as she stroked her hair. “I did get some, yeah. I think Kyle slept through the night.”

“That’s good, right?”

“Yeah,” Julia said as she stared at her stepson’s still-sleeping form in the hospital bed. The rushed rescue had been wild, and they’d just made it in time to save him from a death sentence.

The bruises still shining on his face were a testament to the abuse he’d endured at the hands of Lydia’s henchman.

“Where’s Daddy?” Sierra asked as she rose.

“On the phone with Mike Donovan. There’s a crisis at HG.”

“When isn’t there?” Sierra said. “I’ll go check on him.”

“He’d appreciate that.”

Sierra kissed Julia’s cheek. “Don’t let Kyle kiss you while we’re gone.”

Julia chuckled at her stepdaughter’s comment as she squeezed her hand. “Very funny. I think I’ll be safe.”

“Never know!” Sierra called. “He’s on medication. He’s probably loopy.”

“I’ll watch myself,” she said with a wink as Sierra disappeared from the room, leaving her alone with Kyle.

Julia wandered closer to the bed, glancing at the screen displaying his vitals as she slipped her hand into his. They’d nearly lost him last night. He’d stopped breathing while still at the warehouse, but her sister, Alicia had performed CPR until the paramedics arrived and stabilized him.

His rescue had been a team effort, and she couldn’t be happier with the result. She rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb as she smiled down at him.

His eyes fluttered open, and he sucked in a sharp breath, wincing as he shifted in the bed.

“Hey,” she said softly as he glanced around. “You in pain?”

“Yeah,” he answered, his voice hoarse.

“I’ll grab a nurse,” she said, but he tightened his grip on her hand.

“No, please don’t leave. I’ll just…use the button.”