Page 49 of The Billionaire and His Forever

We spend the rest of the night celebrating.

Chapter Twenty-One

Graham

LeavingAbbie behind at the apartment rips a gaping hole in my chest. I belong with her, she belongs with me, and both of us belong outside of this godforsaken city. New York was always Natasha’s domain—Broadway, the bright lights, the never-ending buzz of eight-and-a-half million people, the sheer mad energy of the place. She’s always thrived amid such chaos, fed off of it. Whereas my heart belongs in the country, with wide open spaces and fresh air to breathe.

I lived in London for years, so when we moved to the States, I wasn’t unprepared for what city life would demand of me…but I hated it. My life flows better in the Hudson Valley; it’s where my soul flourishes. It’s home.

Now, though, home has a new meaning. Home used to mean the expansive grounds and the sprawling estate, the marble floors and high ceilings, the stables and tennis courts and pools and whatever other luxurious frippery my heart desired, all contained in one place. I can’t even say the definition changed with the birth of my daughter, because she was, once upon a time, just another accomplishment to extol, another piece of art to display. Another worry to fret over.

But everything changed with Abbie. It shouldn’t have. I’m old enough to not believe in fairy tales any longer. The veil has been lifted from my eyes, and I know I got where I am today because I didn’t rely on rose-colored glasses. And yet.

Home is wherever her smile is. Home is wherever her hands find mine. Home is where I can bask in her presence and know that everything will be okay. Home is also with Jude, who owns more real estate in my heart than I own in the real world. And that’s largely thanks to Abbie, too, and her insistence I get my head out of my ass and back into caring for my child.

I am the person I am today because of Abbie. But I don’t know what it’s going to take for us to get our happy ending. For us to finally be free and clear of Natasha’s malicious schemes. It’s all I can ruminate on as I stare out the window of the hired car on the drive from New York City back to the Hudson Valley.

When I arrive, I find Jude in the kitchen, baking with the women of the house. Amanda is still here, hired on as a temporary nanny until we can work out Abbie’s legal woes. I appreciate having the extra help, but seeing someone else at Jude’s side leaves a pit in my stomach. As if I need any further reminders that I need to get this fucked-up situation sorted once and for good.

As soon Jude sees me, she sprints around the island and dives into my arms.

“Daddy! Esmeralda told me you came home last night, but when I woke up this morning you were already gone again. Why isn’t Abbie with you? Why did the police come and stop the wedding?” Her questions tumble out of her mouth in rapid succession, her tiny hummingbird heart beating so hard I can feel it against my own chest. “When is Abbie coming home? Is it true what they said when they took her away?”

I feel Amanda’s and Mary’s eyes on me as I hold my daughter tight. I should have spent the drive here coming up with an explanation that wouldn’t destroy her. Business associates are one thing, but the kindhearted girl who all but runs my house is a different animal entirely.

Still, Natasha brought this upon herself. There’s nothing I can do now but tell Jude the truth about how beastly her mother is. It’s time. This child deserves to know.

And yet something catches my tongue. Abbie wouldn’t do this. There’s no love lost between Abbie and Natasha, but Abbie still wouldn’t decry Jude’s own mother, knowing how painful it would be for a child to see their parent as a villain.

I feel the sharp gaze of Mary from across the kitchen, and realize I can’t do it either.

But I can tell as much of the truth as possible.

“Let’s sit, love,” I tell Jude. “We have a lot to talk about.”

“Is it bad stuff?” Jude says, her face falling.

“It’s not going to be an easy conversation, love,” I admit. “But it’s important that you know what’s going on. Ladies, may we have a few minutes?”

“Of course.” Mary nods, motioning to Amanda. “We’ll be scarce.”

Jude settles back on her stool at the island and looks up at me with big doe eyes, anxiety written all over her face. Anger overtakes me for a fleeting instance, where all I want is for Natasha to have her turn rotting in a cold jail cell for bringing this grief upon us. But I take a deep breath and try to clear my mind of everything but the needs of the worried girl before me.

“You know how your mum has been sick at the hospital?” I begin.

Jude nods solemnly.

“Well…she woke up from her coma this morning.”

Jude’s face lights up. “So she’s better now? When can we go see her? Why hasn’t she called—”

“That’s just it, love. She’s not all the way better yet. Sometimes, when people fall into a coma like your mum did, they wake up and they’re very confused at first. Their bodies might not be sick anymore, but their mind can be muddled. So that’s what happened. When your mum woke up, she wasn’t feeling like herself. And…” I take a breath. “And she said that she thought Abbie tried to hurt her. On purpose. So that is why the police came here and took Abbie away.”

Jude’s mouth falls open, and she slumps on her stool. It takes her a moment to process everything I’ve just told her, and then she says, “I heard what the police said. They said ‘attempted murder.’ That’s because Mommy said so?”

I forcibly unclench my jaw. “Yes. She’s very confused and upset now that she’s awake.”

“But Abbie would never do that. Right?”

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