Page 4 of Burning for the Billionaire 8

Mel and Kevin exchange glances, and my gaze narrows on them. “What?”

“You really haven’t been keeping up with the media, have you?”

I snort. “Hell no. I’m tired of all the bullshit.” I’ve avoided watching or reading anything about myself for the last two weeks to protect my mental health.

“Rebecca did an interview,” Mel shares.

Oh, shit.“Did she? Can’t say I didn’t see that coming.”

“I didn’t want to say anything...”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to spare me the details.”

She looks skyward. “It wasn’t high-profile. It was on one of those gossip and entertainment blogs, you know, like the ones on Instagram.”

I shrug. “You know I don’t have Instagram.”

“Well, she’s spreading the narrative that she’s living in squalor, ignored by her billionaire son.”

I can tell by Mel’s grimace that there’s more. “Go on.”

“She said you’d rather spend your money on your...”

“My...?”

Mel sighs. “Sugar baby.”

Fucking hell. Grace won’t like this. As if there isn’t enough strain on our relationship. “I see.”

“You just have to ignore the foolishness,” Kevin says. “It’ll stop, eventually.”

“I’m waiting.”

“Are you okay?” Mel asks.

“Mhm.”

Her eyebrows pucker. “This is just Rebecca trying to wear you down, so you’ll offer to pay her to shut up or something.”

“She’s underhanded like that,” I agree.

“So... how’s Grace?” Mel eyes me uneasily. “I’m surprised she didn’t come with you.”

I blow out a long breath and rub the bridge of my nose. “I don’t want to talk about it.” My guilt over dragging her through this mess with me is almost stifling.

Mel and Kevin watch me with way too much sympathy for my comfort.

“You guys, stop looking at me like that. Grace and I will be fine.”

I hope.

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