Page 46 of Betrayal of a Billionaire
“Why?” Lydia asked. “I’m finding this fascinating. Whatever made you leave this…charming little place and the man you loved enough to say yes to?”
“I don’t think that’s–” Julia began.
“Nothing major,” Luke said. “Julia just had some…concerns that we wanted different things from life. So, before she left, I gave her the compass necklace as a reminder that after she pursued those other things, she should come back to me.”
Julia let her eyes close as her stomach dropped. She had been happy to let everyone think the necklace she never removed had been a simple reminder of Harbor Cove, not a romantic one, and not the promise Luke implied.
“Ohhhhh,” Lydia said, her face registering amusement, “and she still wears it. Religiously, I might add, so it looks like that worked.”
“The necklace is from Luke?” Sierra questioned, her eyes wide.
“Yep,” Luke said with a smile and a nod before he smoothed a lock of hair behind his ear. “I gave it to her on our last trip to the island we visited yesterday. A storm stranded us there–”
Julia felt heat rising in her cheeks, and her stomach fluttered as she abruptly rose, her fork clattering to her now-empty plate. Luke’s laughter set the background noise for the strong, but unreadable emotion in Grant’s eyes. “I need to go to the ladies’ room.”
“I’ll come with you,” Alicia said as Julia nearly tripped herself trying to get away from the table.
Julia didn’t bother waiting for her as she stormed her way across the lawn to the restaurant and pushed inside. She snaked her way over the tile floor to the restroom and pushed into the space, clutching the sink as she collapsed over it with a gasp for air.
Alicia pushed in a second later. Julia’s eyes met hers in the mirror before she tried to bolt for one of the stalls.
“Uh-uh,” Alicia said as she side-stepped in front of her. “You’re not running away.”
“Ally…” Julia started, her voice pleading.
“Things getting too uncomfortable?”
“A little, yeah. I’m not enjoying discussing my former relationship with Luke in front of my current husband.”
“Does it matter?” Alicia asked. “I mean, he’s literally sitting next to his ex-wife. A woman wholiveswith you, Julia. That’s not normal.”
“No, but…it’s complicated. Just…Ally, please, Lydia doesn’t know about the marriage contract, so please don’t say anything.”
“Is she the only one who doesn’t know?”
Julia nodded. “Yeah. Kyle and Sierra know.”
“What’s the deal with him, anyway? Lydia isn’t his mother, right?”
“No,” Julia said. “It was a one-night stand. Kyle had no idea until a few months ago that Grant was his father. Then he showed up angry and looking for revenge.”
“Wow, this guy is a real winner.” Alicia crossed her arms and shook her head.
“He was hurt.”
Alicia flicked her eyes to Julia’s. “Not the kid…I’m talking about Grant. I mean, five wives, countless women, apparently. And this is what you left Luke for?”
Julia’s shoulders slouched as her sister tested her loyalty to past and present. “That’s not fair.”
“Isn’t it? Say what you want, but Luke never cheated on you.”
“Neither has Grant,” Julia countered.
“No, but he has no reason to. He’s already been with the entire state of Louisiana. Luke, on the other hand, I can’t evenremember him really dating anyone else. At least not seriously. He’s had a thing for you since you were in high school.”
“Oh, come off of it, Ally. What about…what’s her name? The one with the weird voice.”
“Oh, Jen. Right, that lasted really long. Three whole dates, I think.”
