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“Uh-uh. I’m not the sister who hides stuff.”
Julia’s heart sank.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it as bad as it sounded.”
“It’s okay,” she answered. “And I’m still sorry about that. Hey, how are things with Ethan?”
“Mmm, up one day, down the next. That’s probably why I didn’t know about Luke. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own misery that I missed him becoming a millionaire. I can’t wait to congratulate him. And I hope when I do, you’re next to him with a big smile and a big ring. Oh, well, not as big as that massive thing Grant gave you. It’s ugly anyway. Who needs a ring that big?”
Julia stared down at the massive rock on her finger. She hadn’t cared about the ring either, but she still remembered the moment he’d slipped it on her finger. She shook her head at herself for being a sentimental fool who had built an entire image around a man only to have it come crumbling down around her. With a sigh, she answered, “I don’t know. Anyway, I need to get going. I’ve got a charity gala this evening, and I want to get some work done before it.”
“Oh, right. Have fun. And just remember…you’re better off without him. He’s a pushy jerk.”
In every instance in the past when her sister had mentioned her dislike for Grant, she’d defended him in her mind, but this time she couldn’t find the words. “I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks, Ally. We’ll talk soon.”
They said their goodbyes, and Julia ended the call, finding her screen filled with missed calls and texts.
Her eyebrows scrunched as she scrolled through them, finding each message becoming more desperate than the last. Before she could formulate a response, her office door burst open.
Kyle raced in, puffing for breath, his features etched with concern.
She tugged her chin back to her chest in surprise. “Kyle?”
“What the hell, Julia? You can’t drop a message like that, and then completely ignore me.”
She frowned at him. “First of all, yes, I can, and second, I was on the phone with my sister.”
“Okay, well, now you’re not, so let’s talk.” He dragged a chair closer to her.
“Aren’t you on shift at the hospital?”
“I told them there was an emergency at home, and I had to leave.”
She shook her head at him. “It’s not an emergency.”
“Yes, it is. Your text was awful.”
“Well, so is what you are trying to do to Luke.”
Kyle’s jaw clenched. “Did my father blame this all on me? Because if he did, that’s not true. He started it. He said last night he wanted to destroy Luke.”
“So, you came up with a nice list of things you could try?” Julia said as she grabbed the list and held it in the air.
“Yes. But–”
“But nothing, Kyle. You can’t just go around destroying people who get in your way.”
Kyle shook his head. “Dad ruled all of those options out, so technically–”
The glare she gave him stopped his words.
“I’m sorry, Julia, okay? But Luke is a problem.”
“He is not a problem.”
Kyle shrugged. “He is for me.”
“I thought we were past this. I thought you had moved beyond all the anger that drives you to want to lash out at people.”
