Page 95 of Bliss with a Billionaire
“But he’s not my father. Some other random guy is. Who knows who it is.” Her shrill voice betrayed her panicked emotions.
“It doesn’t matter who it is,” Grant said.
“No, it doesn’t,” Julia added. “Because Grantisyour father. Family isn’t DNA, Sierra. Family is love.”
Grant tightened his grip on her hand. “And I love you, baby. Always. Nothing is ever going to change that.”
“Really? Because…I’m…” Tears flowed freely as she sought to find the words. “I’m just…a horrible living reminder of how awful Lydia was.”
“I’m going to be sick.” She clamped a hand over her mouth.
Julia shifted closer in the chair, rubbing Sierra’s shoulder. “I’ll get you some water. Take some deep breaths.”
She shifted Sierra’s weight toward Grant as she rose.
He pulled his daughter into his arms as she sobbed. “Sierra, you are not a reminder of Lydia.”
Julia returned with a glass of water as Grant pulled back from Sierra and slid a lock of hair behind her ear. Sierra struggled to steady the glass to take a sip.
Julia helped her before she took the glass and set it aside. “Any better?”
“No,” Sierra said with a sniffle.
“Baby, when I look at you, all I see is the girl I raised. That little girl who used to sit on my lap and look at spreadsheets with me. The one who used to play in my office and accidentally sent an email to the entire company.”
The anecdote brought a fleeting smile to Sierra’s features.
“The brave girl who fell off her horse when she was twelve and got right back on just like a true Harrington. The one who took me to task for getting her the wrong color car for her sixteenth birthday.”
Sierra frowned. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I’m not sorry that my name is on your birth certificate. I’m not sorry that we spent these years together. And I am not sorry that you are my daughter. I’m grateful. I’m honored. And I’m very proud of you. Julia’s right. DNA doesn’t matter. What matters is that we are a family, and we always will be. Unless…you don’t want me as a father anymore.”
Sierra's features melted, her lower lip trembling. “I don’t want anyone else to be my dad, Daddy.”
He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. “I love you so much, Sierra.”
“I love you too, Daddy,” she said with another sob.
Julia smiled at the touching scene. Grant reached for her hand, squeezing it as he mouthed, “Thank you.”
She nodded at him as Sierra pulled back, wiping tears from her cheeks. She grabbed Julia’s hand. “You’re right. DNA doesn’t matter. Julia is my mom, and she didn’t give birth to me. So, it doesn’t matter.”
“That’s right,” Julia answered. “It doesn’t matter. We will always be a family.”
Sierra nodded as she sniffled, her feature going blank again. “OMG.”
“What, baby?” Grant asked as he wiped a tear from her cheek.
“I’m not your daughter–”
“You are.”
Sierra focused her gaze on him. “Biologically. I’m not your daughter…” Her lips twisted into a grimace. “But Kyle is actually your son. How messed up is that?”
“Very,” Grant answered with a sigh. “Believe me, I’d rather this be reversed.”
“Me too…but…it doesn’t matter. You’re my dad.” She said the words as though reassuring herself.
