Page 73 of The Billionaire's Royal Challenge

“Talking or…” Victoria leaned forward as she waited for the answer.

“Kissing…after they’d come out of his bedroom.”

A knowing expression crossed Victoria’s features, and she snapped her gaze to Charles with sighed as he shifted in his seat.

“Are you sure?” Victoria asked.

“I’m more than sure,” Nate said, tugging his phone from his pocket. “I told Elena what I’d seen, and she spoke with Julian.”

He played the audio clip of Julian detailing his affair with Chloe along with his intention to keep it only to a playful romp.

Victoria let her gaze fall to her lap as she sighed and shook her head. “Have you said anything to Stephen?”

Nate pressed his lips together as he shook his head. “No. I…struggled with what to do about this. I didn’t think I should be the one to tell him. He’ll take it badly coming from me. He’ll think this is all sour grapes.”

“You’re right,” Victoria said. “And thank you for thinking of your brother’s feelings in this. He needs to know, but you telling him is the worst possible scenario.”

“I know that. And for a while, I wondered if I should tell anyone. I just…felt like I was doing it for selfish reasons. I don’t like Chloe. And I don’t want her being part of this family.”

“None of us are fond of her, Nate. But your brother didn’t ask anyone’s advice or opinion when he married her.”

Nate sighed as he shook his head. “I didn’t listen about her either, so I guess I can’t blame him.”

Victoria sucked in a breath. “Well, after the trouble she caused you’d think he’d have been a little more cautious, but it’s like it spurred him on to accept her.”

“I raised you two boys to be too competitive. You’re brothers first, though,” Charles said. “Well, you know that. You came to us instead of throwing this in your brother’s face, which would have been an easy thing to do, Nate.”

“I don’t want him hurt, but…he’s going to keep getting hurt if he stays married to her.”

“You’re a good brother.” Victoria patted his hand. “In the midst of everything going on with you, you took the time to think this through so you didn’t hurt him.”

“I miss the days when Stephen and I weren’t at each other’s throats.”

“Well, if this marriage ends, you may get them back. She’s the problem,” Victoria answered. “Can I ask for a favor?”

Nate nodded.

“Can you send me that recording? I know we’re going to hear flak about it from Stephen when we talk to him. I’d like to have the proof in my pocket.”

“Sure,” Nate answered as he tapped on his phone to forward it along.

“And can you do me another favor?” Victoria asked as she rose.

“Yeah,” he answered, standing and feeling as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

“Can you make sure Maddie’s okay? We’re going to have our hands full this morning, I think. And I don’t need another lovesick baby getting into trouble.”

Nate laughed as he nodded. “Sure. Although, I think Alexander is a pretty standup guy, so I doubt he’d do anything like Julian.”

“I don’t think so either,” Victoria said, “but that doesn’t mean Maddie won’t get a crazy idea in her head. She’s a teenager. She’s got all those raging hormones. I don’t want an international incident.”

“I’ll go check in with her now. Hey, I’m sorry to be the one to throw your morning into a tailspin.”

“It’s okay. Better that we know than have this come out at the worst possible moment.”

“Oh,” Nate said as his eyes fell to the table. “Mind if I take your conversation list? I need to practice so I can dance and talk at the same time.”

Victoria grinned at him and handed the topic list over. “You’ll be fine. You were always good at wooing clients.”

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