The Broken Billionaire (The Frazer Family #3)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

ELIJAH

A wedding, its purpose—to celebrate the sanctity of marriage. For most, it’s a joyous occasion where family and friends come together to celebrate the joining of a happy couple. In the case of my two brothers, Gabriel and now Caleb, that’s true. They’re both loved-up saps, devoted to their much better halves.

Their weddings are nothing like mine.

I focus on breathing in and out, my pulse roaring in my ears as I work to calm my racing heart.

I inhale, holding it for four, before exhaling softly, waiting for the pressure in my chest to ease.

I sit and grip the seat cushion next to me, observing my brother, Caleb. There’s no trace of the gut-wrenching dread I experienced the night before my wedding. Instead, my younger brother is beaming, gushing about his up-and-coming nuptials. His twin and best friends share in his excitement.

Excitement that is palpable. His eyes are sparkling. He’s practically dancing in his seat. If he checks his phone one more time, I think Gabriel’s going to confiscate it. There are no thoughts of escape or concealment. It’s clear to everyone he can’t wait to make April his wife.

Caleb is happy. April is happy. Gabriel and his wife, Leah, are ecstatically happy.

The panic slowly subsides as I survey the room. Caleb is not me. Like Gabriel, he’s marrying a woman he loves and who loves him completely. A woman who complements him in every way.

It’s been years since I last saw my brother this at ease with himself.

Fuck!

I need some air.

I get up and head to the patio door, refusing to spoil my brother’s celebration. Xander, one of Caleb’s friends, calls over to me. I turn and offer a smile. The frown between his brows lets me know he’s not buying it. I shake my head slightly, holding my breath and silently pleading he doesn’t call me out. When he turns away, I exhale and continue my escape.

I step out onto the patio and look out over the manicured garden. One thing I can thank Darra for. But then I paid for an army of servants to help her. The house itself was a wedding gift from my parents. A four-bedroom detached stone cottage on the family estate. The seventeenth-century house still contains its oak beams and large fireplaces. The opposite of my apartment in the city. Which is made of glass, tiles, and stainless steel.

I sink onto one of the patio lounge chairs Lottie, my daughter, loves so much. Pleased, Caleb and April waited until summer before saying, ‘I do’. Their initial plan was to have me sitting here freezing my balls off in mid-winter.

I inhale deeply, allowing the peace and tranquillity of The New Forest to sink in. This past eighteen months have been a roller coaster, and I’m tired. Tired of the speculation and questions, tired of work, tired of the endless battle between our divorce lawyers. Our marriage was nothing but a sham for years. One I tried and failed to protect Lottie and the rest of my family from.

Instead of protecting those I care about, I alienated and pushed them away. Now I have to fix it. I rest my forearms on my thighs and hang my head. The stretch in the back of my neck soothes the tension I’m carrying.

A bark of raucous laughter comes from behind me, followed by more cheers and chants. Caleb and his friends know how to party.

The door opens, and I look up, staring straight ahead.

“Hey,” Gabriel says, appearing at my side. “Is everything all right?”

I turn to face my brother and hold up my glass.

“Just getting some air.”

He tilts his head and pauses. His eyes miss nothing.

I turn away. It’s impossible to hide anything from Gabriel.

I’m surprised when he lets it drop.

“Thank you for letting us use your house this evening. Caleb’s attempts to see April would have been disastrous. It’s bad enough with all the sappy text messages.”

Smiling, I return my gaze to the garden.

Smiling is something I’m trying to do more these days.

“Glad it could be of use.”

Since the divorce, the house has sat empty. After our marriage collapsed years earlier, I moved to London to be nearer my office. Darra stayed at the house with Lottie, and I visited on weekends. Darra liked the comfort and support of the staff I employed. But with everything finalised, living on my family’s estate was not something Darra wanted to do.

“He’s happy,” I acknowledge.

“He is.”

I feel Gabe’s hand land on my shoulder.

He understands my life better than my other siblings and is privy to more than the others.

We fall into silence until Gabe speaks.

“When does Lottie leave for Italy?”

I take a long sip of my drink before exhaling.

“Two days. She’ll spend most of the summer there. Darra has enlisted her in an art school that offers Italian lessons. She’ll be back for Mum’s birthday weekend.”

“And you? What are you going to do while she’s gone?”

“Work. We’ve got a new release due in a few weeks,” I say.

Gabriel tuts. “Other than work? You can’t spend the entire summer locked in your office. It’s not healthy. Take it from a reformed workaholic.”

“I know what you’re trying to do, but I’m not going there,” I say.

All loved up, and he thinks the rest of the world wants that, too. Both he and Caleb have done a complete one eighty on their feelings towards commitment and relationships. Where I’m concerned, I’ve been there and done that. Not to mention, once burned… Just the thought of getting involved with someone else is enough to bring me out in hives.

Gabriel doesn’t let up.

“I’m not talking about getting serious with anyone. I’m just saying. It’s been eight months since your divorce. You’ve barely been out with friends. Would it be so bad to socialise? Why don’t you at least join us on boys’ night?”

“I’ll think about it,” I say, my tone totally non-committal.

Gabriel huffs.

“Fine. I promise to seriously think about it,” I concede. “But Lottie’s happiness going forward is my number one priority. I’m not sacrificing that for anything or anyone. So much has changed for her. She needs stability.”

The thought of meeting someone, giving up control. Worse still, there being friction with Lottie. That’s the last thing I need. Lottie has had enough to deal with, with her mother and me fighting constantly. I want to give her a peaceful environment. At least for the next couple of years.

“Thinking about it is enough for now,” Gabriel says, squeezing my shoulder. “But you also have to think about your own happiness. You’re not an island, Eli.”

I drop my chin to my chest. “Maybe not, but I’ve certainly done a great job of isolating myself.”

I know I’ve not been the easiest person to be around. There are a lot of bridges to rebuild. For years, I kept everyone at arm’s length, thinking I was protecting them from my mistakes. Instead, all I caused was more heartache.

After years of being caught in a toxic marriage, where I lived each day under the threat of having my daughter ripped from my life. No, I don’t ever want to open myself up to that kind of vulnerability again. But I took all that I had to because of my love for my daughter. Now that is over.

“The adoption is complete?” Gabriel asks, sensing I want to change the subject.

“Yes.”

Darra can no longer threaten me with Lottie.

Not that she wants to. She received the vineyard in Tuscany as part of our divorce settlement, along with most of what I accrued over the years. I only asked that she stay away from my company and my art collection. My lawyer was horrified, but I got what I wanted most—Lottie.

Darra finally agreed to let me adopt our daughter. Although I think Lottie’s insistence had more to do with it than mine. She’s quite the little firecracker when she wants to be. It’s also the reason she’s spending the summer with her mother. To rebuild their relationship.

Gabriel clinks his glass against mine, making me turn my head. I’m surprised by his smile.

“Are you going to tell the others?” he asks.

It’s been a bone of contention between us since Lottie arrived on his doorstep, having overheard Darra and me arguing. Not the way I wanted my thirteen-year-old at the time to find out I wasn’t her biological father, that her mother had tricked me into marrying her while carrying another man’s child.

“It’s not important. I won’t have Lottie suffering for her mother’s indiscretions. I’m her father. That’s all that matters.”

Gabriel’s reply is cut off as Quentin pops his head out of the door, making us both turn.

“Are you two coming back in? You’re missing all the fun.”

Gabriel responds, “Soon.”

They exchange a look, before he turns and disappears back inside.

I sigh.

Of course, I’m the poor divorcé who has escaped from a disastrous marriage. Everyone knows it. My ex was not exactly discreet.

“Lottie’s a great kid. She loves you. You’re her dad, first and foremost. Nothing is going to change that. Divorcing Darra means you can now move forward with your life. Move on.”

Running a hand through my hair, I sigh.

“I’m thirty-seven. I’m not sure what that looks like,” I tell him truthfully.

In my heart, I know Lottie is happier that her mother and I are no longer at each other’s throats. But I’ve remained trapped in a toxic cycle for so long that I’m numb.

“You need to be kind to yourself. Don’t overthink things. We Frazers do that. It’s a common trait.”

I can’t help the laugh that escapes. Since childhood, everyone has known Gabriel to analyse and re-analyse everything, looking for patterns. His ability with numbers is scary.

“All I’m saying is don’t shut yourself off. I understand the need to protect yourself, but let those who love you back in. Lean on us the way we’ve leaned on you over the years. You might be the eldest, but as I said before, you’re not an island. There is still time to reset and move on.”

The door bursts open behind us. An identical face to the one in front of me appears.

“Why are you two skulking out here?” Caleb claps an arm around both our shoulders. “You appear excessively serious for the night before my wedding. You should be celebrating. Someone has finally tamed me.”

Gabriel chuckles, and I smile. Caleb is right and more than a little tipsy. The beautiful April has tamed our playboy brother. His soulmate. She loves him as openly as he loves her. They complement each other, make the other better-stronger.

“Plus, I need your help. Those reprobates in there are not listening. I refuse to be hungover tomorrow. Tristan got out Uno. He’s making up the drinking rules. I need you both back inside.”

Gabriel shakes his head. “Grow a pair,” he tuts at his brother.

I can’t talk. I got plastered the night before my wedding. Drowning my sorrows, I think the word for it is.

“Go to the drinks cabinet,” I tell him. “There’s a bottle. It has a small red dot. Zero alcohol—tastes like shit, but if they test it, they won’t know the difference. Use that bottle for your shots.”

Caleb reaches up and pats my cheek. At six foot two, he’s not small, but against my six foot six, I tower over my brothers.

“Big brother always looking out for us. What would we do without you?” he says, his eyes shining with the amount of alcohol his friends have him drinking.

“Let’s get back inside before your friends trash my house,” I say, heading for the door.

Another cheer comes through the open door as we walk back inside and rejoin the festivities.