Page 80 of Betrayal of a Billionaire
“Julia left Daddy!” Sierra shouted as she flicked away a tear that had escaped.
The shock on Lydia’s face was obvious, though it quickly mixed with amusement. “Well, isn’t that an interesting development?”
Grant slid his eyes closed as he clenched his hands into fists. Her taunting voice was like salt in his wounds.
“So, she’s finally had enough of you. I must admit, I thought you would leave her, but I suppose that delicious-looking sailor proved to be just too much temptation.”
He resisted the urge to lunge at her and throw her out of the house. Dealing with Julia’s departure threatened to crush him without Lydia’s taunts.
“I cannot believe Little Miss Perfect finally fell from grace.”
“Get out, Lydia.”
Lydia snapped her gaze up to him, her lower lip jutting out in a pout. “Oh, Grant. Come on, now. She was wife number five, you should be used to it. Your relationships don’t last. They’re all…fleeting.”
She clicked her tongue. “You always were too blind to see anything beyond you.”
More cutting words that struck at his soul. She was right. Something was wrong with him. He thought it was his choice in women, but…Julia proved him wrong. It wasn’t the women, it was him.
Before he could answer, Sierra stomped her way toward the door.
“Sierra?” he asked.
“I’m going out.”
“Where?” Lydia asked.
“Anywhere!”
“Wait, darling, I’ll come, too. I want to hear more about this…scandal.” She flew out the door after Sierra. It slammed shut behind her, the noise sending another arc of pain through his head.
“Well, Dad, she’s kind of right,” Kyle’s voice said from behind him.
“Shut up, Kyle,” Grant said, unable to take any more goading.
“I’m sorry, but they both had points. Although to be fair, you may be right. It’s probably too late. You should have done something long ago. You wouldn’t listen.”
He twisted to face Kyle, his jaw clenching. “You lost, too.”
Kyle pressed his lips together as he stared down at the floor. “Yes, I did. For now. I’m not giving up. I want her back.”
Grant scoffed at his words, shaking his head. “So what? You’ll go after Luke? Make Julia’s life a living hell until she finallybreaks, or you get rid of him? Do you think she’ll actually turn to you?”
“I know who she isn’t going to turn to,” Kyle said, raising his icy blue eyes to Grant.
His son’s words were like a physical blow to him.
“But you can’t really be that surprised. Your relationships are all shallow. You deserved this. It’s all about you all the time. And this time, someone finally made it about them.”
Kyle strode past him toward the door. “I’m going for a walk before the storm. Have fun being alone.” Kyle swung the door open, clinging to it before he focused his gaze on Grant again. “I’d get used to the feeling.”
He stood for a moment, letting the silence of the house envelop him before he shuffled to the dining room, sinking into a seat at the table as he flicked his gaze out the window. The dark clouds gathering on the horizon mirrored the turmoil within him.
He sat there until a few drops of rain hit the glass, each one a reminder of his failures. Wind churned the sea into an angry beast, sending sprays toward the sky as the water pounded onto the rocks.
The front door opened and clicked shut. He wondered if maybe Julia had returned. Kyle joined him a few moments later. Had his son seen her?
“I guess she didn’t come back, huh?” Kyle asked.
