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If he wanted her, he had to fight.
He strode into the living room and went straight to the drink cart, pouring himself a bourbon that he downed in one gulp. An internal battle raged inside him. Was the choice he was considering a way to protect Julia or simply stoking his own jealousy?
“Is there a reason you’re tossing back bourbons like that?” Kyle asked. “And is it related to the fact that Lydia dragged me away from Julia so Luke could run off with her?”
Grant twisted to face him, his eyebrows pinching. “Lydia took you away from Julia?”
“Yep. She was talking to Luke. Of course, I inserted myself into that situation only to be literally pulled away from it by Lydia. And now Julia is gone and so is Luke.”
The information only further confirmed what he was telling himself. Julia had nothing to do with this. Lydia and Luke set it up. He had to avenge it. His decision was made.
He poured himself another bourbon, sipping this one much more slowly as he turned to Kyle. “Remember when you said we should destroy Luke?”
His son’s eyebrows shot up. “Yeah?”
“What did you have in mind?”
He channeled his anger into the request. He couldn’t let Julia slip through his fingers, but he couldn’t win her over with Luke here. He’d have to get rid of the man. And he didn’t care how he had to do it.
CHAPTER 18
JULIA
Julia glanced down at the hand wrapped around her arm before she raised her tear-filled eyes to Luke. She had no idea where she belonged anymore, but she felt a strong sense of guilt. The betrayal that had flitted across Grant’s face certainly suggested it.
Or maybe it had been purely anger that she’d broken their agreement to leave other relationships at the door.
“Luke–” she began.
“Julia, you don’t belong here. You have to know that. You belong with me. What more do I have to do to prove it?”
She stared at him, suddenly seeing the expensive suit as part of the mounting evidence he was presenting to her to make his case. Earlier she’d thought Lydia had done this of her own accord, spotting a weakness and exploiting it. But now she realized she’d been part of his plan, too. “Did you…did you do all of this to…”
She couldn’t put her thoughts into words, maybe because they sounded ridiculous to her. But had he gone into business with Lydia to prove to her that he was the man for her?
Luke’s eyes held a new depth of emotion she hadn’t seen before. “To prove to you that we should be together? Sort of. But it’s not just about proving something, it’s about realizing what’s truly important. And that’s you. Maybe I’m too late, but I’m here now, ready to be the man you always wanted me to be.”
The statement made her mind whirl. She stood speechless for a moment, trying to make sense of what he’d just admitted.
“Julia, I…miss you. I love you. I want you back in my life.”
Her forehead creased as she glanced up sharply at him. “Do you? Since when?”
He stared at her, confusion crossing his features. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’ve always been clear about my feelings for you.”
“Right, yes, but you didn’t choose to actively come back for me until I was married.”
He shook his head, flicking his gaze across the room. “Fake married, Julia.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m married,” she said flashing her ring finger at him. The massive diamond she wore sparkled even in the dim light. “I told you that.”
“Well, you barely did. You kept this entire thing hidden from even your family. That’s how important it was to you.”
The words hit her like a physical slap. He had a point. She had kept it secret for a reason. “Still…”
“Still nothing, Julia. This marriage you’re hiding behind is a fraud. And in a very short time, you’re not going to be able to use it as a shield.”
She chewed her lower lip as she crossed her arms, suddenly feeling more exposed than she liked.
