Page 131 of Battle with a Billionaire

“Make it that simple. I don’t care if you have to pay her for the rest of her life to stay here. I want Julia here.” She stamped a foot on the floor, her voice pleading. “Daddy! It’s not just about you. You need to step up for all of us.”

“I do, too, Sierra. You know that. And I will make sure that happens. When the time is right, and I know we’ll get the win.”

Sierra heaved a sigh. “Fine. Just make sure she doesn’t leave. And please get rid of Mom. She’s such a pain.”

“Believe me, I know,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “I’ve already asked her to leave by the end of the month.”

Sierra grinned at him. “Yay, thank you, Daddy!”

She skirted around the desk and kissed his cheek. “I’m so happy we’re a family again.”

“So am I, Sierra. So am I.”

“I gotta run. Tell Julia we’ll go shopping soon.”

“I will,” he said as his daughter raced out the door, darting past Worthington.

He crossed to the office and stepped inside. “Mr. Harrington, anything I can get for you?”

He lifted his glass in the air. “No, I’m doing just fine.”

“Pleased to have Mrs. Harrington home again?”

“And very pleased that she does not just remember our arguments.” Grant’s lips curled again as he sipped his drink. “Have a drink, Worthington. Help me celebrate.”

“I don’t mind if I do, sir,” Worthington said as he crossed to the drink cart and poured himself a brandy. “I feel quite happy to have the household back to normal.”

“So do I, Worthington,” he said as he kicked his feet up on the desk. “So do I.”

Worthington settled into a chair across from Grant. “I imagine Mrs. Harrington is quite pleased, too.”

“I’m sure. I plan to check on her in a little bit. She’s badgering Kyle for–”

“Cookies, sir, yes, I passed them along to Dr. Carter already.”

Grant chuckled. “Yes.” He let his head thud softly against the chair’s high back. “You know, Worthington, for the first time in a long while, I think things may actually work out.”

“That’s more like it, sir. You were rather uncertain before, but I’m pleased to see a better outlook now.”

Grant smiled at him as he raised his glass. “It’s much better, Worthington. Much, much better.”

Grant sipped his bourbon, letting the liquid dance across his tongue. He had nearly another year with his wife. And plenty of time to convince her to stay longer. With any luck, this would be the turning point in his life.

He leaned back in his chair, gazing out the window, lost in thought. The road ahead for the Harrington family was fraught with challenges, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of hope. A hope that could mend the frayed edges of their delicate tapestry and emerge stronger, together.

CHAPTER 28

JULIA

Julia sat stunned for a moment at the words. “What do you mean destroy me and Sierra?”

Was the woman jealous of their relationship? Did she actually think, though, that Julia would help her destroy Grant to stop her from trying to undermine her relationship with the woman?

“You’ll be easy,” Lydia said with a harsh laugh. “You’ve laid the groundwork already. Just a few edited photos of you with the good doctor ought to do the trick. Imagine Grant’s surprise when he sees a few images of you and his son just a little too close. We all know how Kyle feels, Grant just needs a little push to realize how you do.”

“I don’t, and I am not having an affair with Kyle.”

Lydia winced as she shrugged. “Maybe you are and maybe you aren’t. But it’s what appearances say that matters. And recently, you’ve been spending a lot of time with Dr. Cutie. It wouldn’t be hard to make anyone believe something was going on. Illusions can easily become reality, especially in the eyes of a betrayed husband.”

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