Page 113 of Battle with a Billionaire

She furrowed her brow, her first instinct was to argue that he shouldn’t have to, but she squashed it. Sometimes maybe it was best to just accept help when it was offered. She forced a smile onto her face and nodded. “Okay.”

“Now, maybe you should try to relax. I know that feels like all you’ve been doing, but that seems to be what you need.”

“You’re right. My mind just keeps searching and searching, and quite frankly, it’s exhausting. That’s probably why I fell asleep on Kyle’s couch last night.”

“You slept on the couch?”

“Well, he did move me when he got home, but yes, I slept on the couch. Same thing as when I slept there the last time.” She smiled at the memory. “I fell asleep on the couch because he promised if I could stay awake for five minutes he’d take me back to the hospital.”

“I guess you didn’t make that.”

She chuckled at the statement, a measure of relief washing through her. “I think I made it two. Even with my sister’s call interrupting us.” She winced.

“What’s that face for?”

Julia wrinkled her nose as she glanced up at him through her eyelashes. “In my exhaustion, I stupidly told Kyle she didn’t know I was married, which of course, he picked up on.”

“Well, thanks to Sierra shouting about it, he knows everything anyway.”

“Oh,” she said with a furrowed brow. “He told me he knew but he didn’t say how he found out. At least, it wasn’t me.”

Grant laughed. “No, Julia, it wasn’t you. We have Sierra to thank for that. Anyway, let me know if you need anything, okay? No matter what it is, just come find me.”

“I will, thank you.”

After a last smile, she climbed the steps, heading back to her room. She stepped inside the quiet sanctuary, becoming more and more used to the space. Was she remembering it or simply becoming accustomed to it?

Her gaze fell to her phone. She’d left it behind in her frantic race to get to Kyle’s before she forgot it. Her behavior was erratic, and she hated herself for that. But every site she’d read had said it could be.

With a groan, she slumped into her chair, trying to piece together what she’d remembered with those memories she’d built since she awoke.

Nothing seemed to fit. She felt a pull toward Kyle, but nothing he said fit with Grant’s behavior. She scrubbed her face as her head began to ache again.

The unlatching of her door drew her attention. She swallowed hard as Lydia slinked into the room, easing the door shut behind her.

“Hi, Jason. It’s me…Lydia.”

She said her name slowly, as though Julia wouldn’t understand. “I remember your name, Lydia, but thank you. Jason?”

“Bourne. Jason Bourne. The famous amnesiac. Oh, you probably don’t remember that either.”

Julia heaved a sigh. “Did you need something?”

“Oh, I was just checking on you,” Lydia said as she waddled her way into the room and collapsed in the armchair next to Julia. “Figured we could shoot the breeze, spend a little girl gab time, get reacquainted.”

Julia crinkled her brow as she studied the made-up woman in her slinky dress. “Did we spend a lot of time together before?”

“Well, no, but…I thought I could be a guiding force as you navigate the rather…murky waters of Harrington House.”

Julia’s stomach fluttered at the idea. Lydia didn’t seem like the type who wished to be a guiding force but rather a crushing blow. Grant bristled at her presence. It seemed even Sierra did. Though she couldn’t be rude enough to throw her out, and maybe she’d learn something or even trigger a memory. “I see. And what guidance do you have for me?”

Lydia’s lips turned down as she lifted a shoulder. “Make your choice?”

Julia’s eyebrows knit as she tried to parse through the statement’s meaning. “What?”

Lydia’s features settled into an unimpressed stare. “Make your choice, Julia. Unless you enjoy pitting father and son against each other.”

Julia’s lips parted at the words. She didn’t enjoy the tension, but she was trying to get her memory back any way she could. “I don’t, but–”

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