My Accidental Billionaire Husband (Katia and Julian) novel Chapter 176

The Family Mating

+25 BONUS

and I partnership, I would have found her immediately.” I paused. “She chose not to wear it. For seven years she chose not to

wear it.”

“Julian,” Grandma said quietly. “That girl has been through a great deal. She told me herself she was afraid to wear the ring. Afraid of losing it. She did not know who gave it to her or what it meant or where to begin looking. She described it to me in detail – she has been carrying it carefully for six years because it was the only thing she had left from that night.”

I looked at her. “She told you about the ring.”

“I invited her for lunch,” Grandma said. “She still does not know you are her husband.”

“Oh, she suspects,” I said. “She walked into my office wearing the ring and asked me directly if I was the man from Vegas seven years ago. She sat across from my desk with the Windsor fire stone on her hand and asked me.” I paused. “I denied it.”

Gail stared at me.

“She came back last year,” I said. “One year she has been here. That is a year she could have been wearing that ring publicly. A year ago, someone could have recognised it. Instead, she kept it in a box and wore it occasionally, and now another year has been added to six, and it is seven years, and Aiden is six and will be seven soon.” I looked at the table. “Seven years of my son’s life. Six I can understand. She did not know. She was young and alone, and I accept that. But the whole of last year — when she was back, when she was in my boardroom, when she was in this house at my grandmother’s table – that year I cannot accept.”

“You cannot punish her for something she did not do deliberately,” Grandma said.

“I am not punishing her,” I said. “I am making a decision. No one is telling Katia that I am her husband. I will tell her when I see fit. On my terms. Not before.”

“Julian-” Gail said.

“And Aiden stays here,” I said. “In this house. He goes to school. He goes shopping. He goes on holiday. But he does not go back to that Brooklyn penthouse. When Katia comes here trying to take him, you two are going to make up a story. My son will not leave this house to go back to hers.”

Gail’s mouth fell open.

“Julian, you cannot-

“she started.

“Six years she had him to herself,” I said. “She had six years. I am taking some of that time back. I kept away from him because I did not know he existed. She has had him his entire life.” I looked at both of them. “If either of you tells Katia the truth before I am ready or helps her take Aiden out of this house, I will fly out of this country with my son. Both of you will never see him again. Including her.”

The kitchen was completely quiet.

୮

Grandma looked at me for a long time. Her expression was not angry. It was the expression she wore when she was seeing through something to what was underneath it.

“You would not do that,” she said.

“Would you like to find out?” I said.

No one answered.

the communication of two people who

Gail looked at Grandma. Grandma looked at Gail. Something passed between them understood that the man across the table was serious enough to mean what he was saying and hurt enough to do something he might regret.

“Fine,” Grandma said finally. Quietly. “Fine, Julian.”

Gail looked at the table. “Fine,” she said.

The Formily Meeting

I stood up

“Thank you,” I said.

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