Page 62 of Battle with a Billionaire

As the comfort of her room surrounded her, she slouched under the blanket, letting her head fall back against the pillow again. She shifted on the uncomfortable mattress, trying to find a comfortable position. Her ribs had begun to ache no matter which way she lay.

She hoped the doctor would be in soon. Maybe he could give her something for the pain that would also dull the ache at her temples.

She chewed her low lip as the woman reattached all her leads and her IV. The monitor resumed its rhythmic beeping again, giving her constant reassurance that she remained alive.

The woman patted her hand and offered her good luck before she strode from the room, off to take her next patient wherever they needed to go.

Exhaustion coursed through her, but she remained afraid to close her eyes. She reached for her water but couldn’t get it. With a sigh, she figured she’d have to wait until someone checked on her.

Shadows stretched across the floor as someone hovered at her door. She hoped it was a nurse to give her medication, water, or both.

Instead, she spotted a man and a younger woman, flawlessly made up. They rushed inside, concern on their faces.

“Oh, Julia, it’s so good to see you awake,” he said as he grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

He leaned closer, rubbing her head.

“Yeah. We were so worried,” the woman said, flanking her on the other side to take her other hand.

Julia flicked her gaze between them as she tensed again.

“Julia? Are you okay?”

Her eyelashes fluttered as the room spun again, her senses threatening to overcome her.

“Julia?” the woman said.

Julia’s breathing ratcheted up, sending pain through her body, turning ragged as she continued to shift her gaze back and forth. Her eyes shifted back and forth before finally landing on the man.

She stared down at their clasped hands, then slid her gaze up to his face. Her forehead pinched.

He offered her a confused glance. “Julia? Are you okay?”

She shook her head, pressing her lips together. “No.”

“What’s wrong?”

She tugged her hand away from his, her features pinching. “Who are you?”

The expression on his face betrayed his shock, his chiseled jaw clenching. He snapped his gaze to the younger woman on the other side of her before he shifted it back to her. His forehead creased, and it seemed he was trying to speak, but no words came out.

“Julia, what do you mean? It’s Daddy! Your husband, duh.”

Julia’s eyes widened as she stared at the man. She had no memory of him whatsoever. She couldn’t have married him. “My what?”

“Husband,” Sierra said, her voice slowing. “He’s your husband. I’m your stepdaughter. You can’t actually tell me you’ve forgotten me.”

“I…”

“Sierra, easy,” the man said.

“Well, obviously she’s just confused—she just woke up. She’s probably half out of it from all the drugs.” The woman patted her hand and grinned. “It’s okay, Julia, we’ll forgive you.”

“Julia,” he said, his voice softening, “just…take a breath. It’s me. It’s Grant.”

She shook her head, panic rising within her, mirrored by the ever-faster beeps from the machine. “I don’t know any Grant. I don’t know you. I don’t know her.”

His features crumpled at her words, concern mixing with disappointment. “Okay, okay, take it easy. I’m going to find the doctor.”

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