Battle with a Billionaire: A Suspenseful Billionaire Romance (Hearts and Holdings Billionaire Romanc

Chapter 16

Julia tapped a nervous rhythm on the thin sheet covering the mattress. The gaps in her memory panicked her. She tried to go over everything in her mind. What did she remember? What had she forgotten?

She couldn’t even make a catalog of what was missing. That scared her more than anything.

If she would have walked past Grant on the street, she wouldn’t have known him. She didn’t recognize her own husband. What else didn’t she know?

Tears threatened as the reality of her situation settled on her shoulders. She’d forgotten her life. Or most of it. Part of it. She didn’t even know. She couldn’t even fully assess her loss. She could walk past someone and never even know she didn’t recognize them.

The thought frightened her enough to raise her heart rate. The machine monitoring it belted out a new, faster bleat as tears filled her ears.

Her brow furrowed as she tried to recall anything from her marriage to the man who claimed to be her husband, but she couldn’t even conjure a fleeting glimmer of recollection.

Only one memory filled her mind, and it hadn’t been a vague recognition of the man. It had been a blazing, full-color memory.

One that had confused her enough that she couldn’t admit it to anyone.

She shifted in the bed, dreading the return of anyone to her room. She had no desire to try to piece her memories together. Anxiety, frustration and fear made her want to slip back into her coma and leave the world behind.

That choice was made for her a moment later when her supposed family shuffled back into the room.

“Sorry, Juls,” Grant said as he crossed to her and rubbed her shoulder. “We didn’t mean to leave you alone.”

The icy glare he offered Kyle was unmistakable. What was the relationship between them? Dr. Gray had said Kyle was also family. But that didn’t fit into her broken mind correctly.

“I think I should be the one apologizing,” she said as her mind swirled with confusion and upset.

“Of course not,” he answered as he sank into the chair next to her. “This isn’t your fault.”

She stared at him. Worry seemed to etch every line in his face. The expression made guilt well up inside her. She felt nothing toward him. Nothing outside of what she knew she should feel for forgetting her own husband. That coupled with her memory of another man threatened to drown her.

Her heart ached with a strange blend of guilt and emptiness. She tried to spark even the tiniest recognition but found only a void. The weight of not knowing him, her own husband, felt oppressive.

Emotions whirled in her, ranging from frustration to anger and finally, to fear. She wanted to comfort him, but she didn’t know him. She wanted comfort, too, but she couldn’t accept it from someone who was a stranger.

“I still can’t believe you don’t—” Sierra started.

“Sierra, remember what the doctor said. Don’t force it.”

“But Daddy!” she pleaded, her made-up features tugging into a frown.

“I’m so sorry…Sierra, right?”

The woman’s shoulders slumped as she nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”

“I really would like to remember you, but…”

“Yeah, no, it’s fine,” she said with a shrug of one shoulder.

Julia bit her lower lip, sensing the upset from the other woman. She just didn’t know what to do about it. What had their lives been like? Were they close?

How long had she been married?

Questions bombarded her, making her headache even worse. She glanced at her husband, her features a mix of confusion, concern, and a pleading glance for help.

“She’ll remember, Sierra, just give it a little time,” he said.

She swallowed hard, hoping that was true. She flicked her gaze back to the blonde’s face and lifted a shoulder. “Maybe…you could remind me of something and that would help.”

“Pictures!” She exclaimed. “Pictures would help. There are pictures of you and Daddy and me and you. I could get those. Those will help, right?”

“Sierra, maybe we should wait until Julia’s home,” Grant said, though his voice seemed unsteady.

Her heart broke for him. He likely felt as panicked as his daughter sounded, but he was trying to be strong for her.

“Yes, especially since those pictures will all need context,” Kyle said. “Context we all agreed would be best dealt with in the privacy of Harrington House. Well, you agreed, I reluctantly agreed.”

Julia pinched her features as the complicated dynamics played out in front of her. She wondered if her solitary memory had anything to do with the hostility between the two men. She pushed past the delicate dance between them to ask a basic question. “What’s Harrington House?”

Sierra’s eyes went wide. “Seriously, Julia? It’s our house where we live.”

“Sierra, easy, she doesn’t remember,” Grant said.

“Well, newsflash, Harrington is also your last name. Not Stanton, okay? You are Julia Harrington.”

“Right,” she said with a nod. “How long?”

“What?” the woman asked.

“For how long have I been Julia Harrington?”

“A little over a year,” Grant answered.

She fluttered her eyelashes at the words, disbelief coursing through her. They were still newlyweds, practically. How gut-wrenching for her new family.

“Julia, do you remember anything about your life?” Grant asked. “Maybe it would help if we knew what you knew.”

She flicked her eyes, her eyes involuntarily landing on Kyle. With a shrug, she shook her head. “I don’t know, though. I don’t know what I don’t know. I could have other family or a job or dog, and I wouldn’t know it.”

“You remembered your last name was Stanton. That’s your maiden name. Do you remember anything else from before we were married?”

She searched her mind, her eyebrows pinching together. “No? Wait, yes. What do I do for a living?”

“You’re the CEO of Harrington Global,” Sierra answered.

Julia’s eyes widened at the title. “Okay, no, I had that wrong.”

“What did you think you did?” Grant asked.

“I thought I was a writer.”

“Yes, yes,” he said with a smile. “You were. You are. Well, you haven’t had much time lately. But, yes, when we first met, you were a writer. Sierra is your publisher. That’s how we met.”

A soft smile played on her lips as she remembered something. Maybe her memory would come back.

“Not really,” Kyle said. “Maybe we ought to table this discussion until she’s home.”

Grant’s jaw flexed, and his nostrils flared in irritation. “I think we ought to discuss whatever Julia feels up to discuss. I think it’s natural that she’d like some answers.”

“Then perhaps we ought to revisit our discussion from earlier about some of the information she needs to know,” Kyle answered with an equally tense jaw.

Julia flicked her gaze back and forth between the two men. The tension between them was obvious. “Uh, I don’t need to know. We could just drop it.”

“It’s okay, Julia,” Grant said with a pat on her hand. “You’re allowed to be curious about your life.”

“She’s also entitled to the right answers about it,” Kyle responded.

Julia’s eyes bounced back and forth between them. Their eyes were nearly identical, not to mention the chiseled jawlines. “Are you…father and son?”

“Yes,” he said, the smile returning to his features. “Yes, Julia, we are. You remembered.”

“Oh, uh, no. The resemblance is obvious though.”

“That’s the only thing we have in common,” Kyle answered. “Outside of that, we are nothing alike.”

The biting statement removed any trace of a smile from her face and Grant’s. It seemed nothing she said was right.

“That wasn’t really called for,” Grant answered.

“I’m just letting her know that we are nothing alike.”

The memory she’d had of Kyle danced across her mind again, making her stomach twist into a knot.

“I’m sorry. I don’t seem to be doing so well with the family dynamic.”

“It’s not your fault, Julia. Kyle and I have a very complicated relationship.”

Julia held her breath, wondering if she was part of the reason for that. Before anyone could explain further, a new figure hovered in the doorway.

The blonde, in towering heels and haute couture, set her gaze on Julia, her expression filled with disdain. “Well, well, well, look who’s awake.”

Who was she? Julia tried hard to place her, but couldn’t.

“Now’s not the time, Lydia,” Grant answered.

Lydia? She didn’t recall a Lydia.

The woman ignored him. “Well, aren’t you even going to say hello?”

“What are you doing here, Mom?” Sierra asked with a sigh as she crossed her arms.

Lydia, Sierra’s mother.Julia tried to mentally log the information.

“I came to see if Sleeping Beauty had awoken yet. And look, she has. Was it Prince Charming’s kiss or something else?”

The words sent a shiver down Julia’s spine, and she slouched lower in the bed. Sierra’s mother must be Grant’s ex-wife. They probably didn’t get along. She wondered when Lydia and Grant had gotten divorced.

Heat washed over her as she wondered if she had been the reason. Had she broken up a marriage? No wonder the woman hated her.

“Get out, Lydia, we’re busy,” Grant barked.

“Well, that’s no way to be, Grant. I’m here to visit Julia now that she’s finally decided to wake up from her endless nap. I see the entire family has rallied around her. Even Conner.”

“Kyle,” he answered.

“Whatever,” she said with a wave of her hand.

Conner? Was he not Lydia’s son?

“Hi,” Julia said, offering the woman a smile, “thank you for coming. Uh, I’m actually?—”

“She has amnesia,” Sierra filled in for her. “She doesn’t remember anything. However, in your case, that’s a good thing. Believe me, Julia, you’re better off.”

Lydia’s features twisted into an amused grin, and a laugh escaped her. “No! Amnesia? Oh, my. Well, isn’t that an interesting turn of events?”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Grant said as he leapt from his chair. “I think it’s time for everyone to leave. Julia is under enough stress right now that she doesn’t need everyone badgering her.”

“Looks like someone isn’t pleased about being forgotten. I’m not surprised. Don’t worry, darling, I haven’t forgotten you.”

Julia screwed up her face as the scene unfolded.

“Get out, Lydia,” he said again.

“I’m going. I’m going. See you at home.”

Home? Did she live at Harrington House, too?

Julia slicked a lock of hair behind her ear as the overwhelming nature of the situation smacked her in the face again. She’d lost her entire life. And apparently, it had been rife with complex relationships and complicated family dynamics. She already felt lost. How would she re-learn all of this?

The woman pounded her way from the room as Grant rubbed his neck and sighed before he flicked his gaze to his two children. “I meant everyone.”

“Daddy! I shouldn’t have to leave. I’m being supportive.”

“And I’d prefer to stay. You know the reason,” Kyle answered.

“I think Julia may need some rest.”

“Then we should all go,” Kyle shot back.

“I’m not leaving her alone here.”

Julia’s stress leveled up as she watched the tense exchange. “Uh, do I get a say here?”

All eyes turned to her.

“Yes, Juls, you do. Sorry,” Grant answered. “Just tell us what you want us to do.”

“While I am getting tired, I wouldn’t mind a few minutes alone with you.”

Kyle’s jaw tensed at the words, and he gave a slight shake to his head. “I’ll be in the lounge. I’m off shift, so if you need me, you know where to find me.”

Sierra’s features pinched for a moment before she shrugged. “I guess, I’ll just go home and have Worthington get everything ready for Julia to come home, hopefully tomorrow.”

“That would be great, honey. I’m sure Julia will very much appreciate that.”

“I do, thank you. Uh, who is Worthington?”

“Our butler,” Sierra answered. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he finds all the photos for you too.”

Butler?Julia’s mind whirled at the information. She’d been a CEO. She’d had a butler. Who did she marry?

Grant heaved a sigh as he collapsed into the chair next to her after seeing his daughter off. “Are you ready to run screaming yet?”

She smiled at him. “I am sufficiently confused.”

“I’m not surprised. I can try to answer your questions, but maybe you should try to relax.”

“Try to relax?” she asked. “I can’t remember a thing and it seems like I should try harder before I’m eaten alive.”

“I’m sorry. The Harringtons are not…normal.”

Her forehead pinched as she wondered why she’d married him. She seemed normal. At least on the surface.

“But like I said, this may be all better tackled once you get home.”

She settled back into the uncomfortable mattress. “I hope the beds are better there.”

He laughed, the worry finally easing away from his features. “They are. I promise. Why don’t you try to get some rest?”

“I hope I can. My mind just doesn’t want to stop.”

“It usually doesn’t.”

He seemed to know her fairly well. She wondered how long they’d dated before she married him. Maybe they hadn’t dated. She recalled Lydia’s glare at her, and her former question resurfaced. Had she been his mistress?

“Sorry, I can’t relax until I ask a really awkward question.”

“Okay,” he said, some of the concern returning to his features.

“Did I…Were you…married to Lydia when we met?”

His laugh replaced any of the worry that had crept back into his face. “No. Lydia left when Sierra was five. I wasn’t married to anyone when we met.”

She offered him a fleeting smile. So, she hadn’t broken up a marriage. Yet, her mind corrected. Her stomach clenched again as more unanswered questions poured into her mind. But she couldn’t ask them.

She slouched further down, tugging the blanket higher. The ringing of his cell phone interrupted the silence that stretched between them.

He glanced at the screen, his features pinching.

“If you need to take that, don’t worry about me. I’m just going to try to fall asleep.”

“I always worry about you, Juls. But if you don’t mind, I’m going to grab this.”

She offered him a reassuring smile and a nod as he pressed the phone to his ear and stepped into the hall.

Alone again, she blew out a long sigh. Unanswered questions threatened to be her undoing. Tears filled her eyes as she struggled to make sense of the limited information she had. As she grappled with the fragments of her memory, a nagging thought lingered at the back of her mind. There were secrets about her marriage, things just out of reach, that spoke to a complexity yet to unfold.

As she blinked them away, Kyle hurried into the room, crossing to her. “Hey, I see it didn’t take long for business to interfere, huh?”

She pinched her eyebrows. Did this happen often? Is that why…

“How are you holding up?” he asked.

She stared into his icy blue eyes, searching them for answers. “Not very well.”

He perched on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in his. “I’m so sorry, Julia. This can’t be easy, especially in this family.”

“It’s not. And what makes it worse is the memory I do have.”

“What memory? Didn’t you say you had a vague recollection of me? I did treat you in the ER. That could be why.”

“I don’t remember the ER,” she said with a shake of her head as she leaned closer to him. “And I don’t have a vague recollection. I didn’t tell the doctor, but I have a full memory of you.”

His features registered surprise. “You do? Julia, why didn’t you say anything?”

“I didn’t think it was appropriate under the circumstances. I needed answers first.”

“Answers?” His forehead creased. “What answers?”

Her heart thudded against her sore ribs as she stared at him. “I need to know why the only clear memory I have is of kissing my husband’s son.”

“That’s the memory you have? Our kiss?”

Her heart thudded faster, the beeping of the monitor increasing as heat washed over her along with guilt and upset. “So, it’s real? I’m not imagining it?”

“No,” Kyle said, rubbing her hand with his thumb. “You didn’t imagine it. We kissed.”

Her jaw fell open as she flicked her gaze to the ceiling. More thoughts than she could process swept through her mind. Why had they kissed? Had it been after her marriage to Grant?

The memory of the kiss with Kyle flickered in her mind, stirring a confusing mix of emotions. Did it signify a hidden longing, a betrayal of her vows, or was it just a moment of vulnerability? The uncertainty gnawed at her, leaving her adrift in the sea of fragmented memories. She squeezed her eyes closed as she planted her palm against her forehead.

“Julia, I can explain.”

“I wish someone would.”

“Calm down. You’re getting upset for no reason.”

“Are you joking? I’m married to a man I can’t remember, and what I do remember is kissing his son. Please tell me it was before I married Grant.”

Kyle licked his lips before he shook his head. “No, it was after.”

Julia groaned, her shoulders slumping.

“Julia, please don’t get upset.”

She flicked a glassy gaze to him. “Are we having an affair?”

He heaved a sigh. “No. It’s really complicated.”

“How complicated can this be? For what reason were we kissing outside of a romantic one after I was already married?”

“It is very complicated,” he repeated, his gaze suggesting a deeper, unspoken truth lingering just below the surface that matched the sadness in his tone. “Trust me. But if it makes you feel any better…I kissed you.”

“Why?” she asked.

He heaved a sigh. “Julia, you need some rest.”

“I’ve been sleeping for days. Why did you kiss me?”

“I…this will make a lot more sense after you’ve had a talk with Grant about your marriage. But that kiss…it wasn’t just a fleeting moment. I probably shouldn’t have done it, but I wanted you to know how strong my feelings were for you.”

Her mind reeled as she stared at him. “Am I in love with you?”

Kyle swallowed hard, his fingers tightening around hers. “I don’t know how you feel. We didn’t discuss that. We were…interrupted.”

She let her forehead rest in her palm with a moan. Things were growing more complicated by the second. What kind of life was she leading?

The door opened, and Grant stepped back into the room, his presence immediately changing the dynamic. A pang of something unidentifiable–guilt, confusion, or a sense of betrayal–swirled inside her. She glanced between both men, her heart caught in a web of complex emotions and unspoken truths. One man was her husband, and one had just confessed strong feelings. But one question loomed in her mind. Which man did she love?