Billionaire’s Unlikely Bride - Chapter 52: Chapter 52

I didn't think Mason would let go of Raven so easily. And I never expected to see my brother look so broken. To know I helped break him. He was wrong, he hurt Raven but I hurt him in return. I didn't have to agree with what he did, but I didn't have to be so harsh.
Clearing my throat, I shifted in my seat, unsure of how to approach the next topic but desperate to move on from the conversation.
"I have something to tell you," I began hesitantly.
Mason raised an eyebrow, relieved at the attention moving from him.
"Go on."
I swallowed hard, my heart kept pounding inside my chest. "I'm... I'm in a relationship. With a girl."
There was a moment of silence, and then Mason smiled. "I'm happy for you, Julie. So when are you bringing her home? This is great, now I get to bug you about your relationship."
I blinked in both surprise and relief. "Wait, you’re not freaked out?"
Mason chuckled. "Why would I be? It's not like I didn't know you like women."
I frowned. "Yes, but you never really told me how that made you feel."
"The heart wants what it wants, Julie. Besides I was a bit surprised and confused. You were so jealous when I married Raven. It wasn’t exactly subtle."
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I wasn't jealous!"
Mason raised his hands in mock surrender, smirking. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say."
"I wasn't." I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but laugh. "Anyway, I want to introduce Emily to Dad. But I need you there when I do."
"Isn't that your friend's sister? The one I thought you were dating. What's his name again?"
"Kyle." I reminded him. "We're just friends."
"Of course. I’ll be there. But how about we start with dinner at my place? You can introduce her to me first."
I hesitated, my nose wrinkling in distaste. "I don't want to see Candice. The thought of her still living with you annoys me."
Mason sighed. "Fine. I’ll arrange lunch with Dad tomorrow, and we’ll go to him."
I nodded, feeling relieved. "Okay, deal."
I was currently standing outside our house with Emily by my side. My heart wouldn't stop pounding. I glanced at Emily, who gave me a reassuring smile.
"You got this," Emily whispered squeezing my hand.
I took a deep breath before leading her inside. Mason had already arrived, and to my surprise, Damon was there as well. I smiled at him. It was good that he was here, he doesn't know but I'm sure he'll support me. Damon has always been like a brother to me, much like Mason.
We were all sat at the dining table. I gathered my courage.
"Dad, there’s something I need to tell you."
He looked at me expectantly. I took Emily’s hand, holding it tightly, closing my eyes for a moment, and drawing strength from her warmth.
"I know you know Emily, my friend, but... she's my girlfriend now."
A brief silence fell over the room as everyone waited for my dad's reaction.
"Finally," he said, letting out a sigh of relief and shocking the hell out of me. "I've been waiting for you to say something."
My eyes widened.
"What? How did you know?"
My dad chuckled softly.
"Julie, you've had crushes on women ever since you were little. Remember in high school when you cried for days after finding out your friend was dating that guy from the basketball team? You lied that you cried because you thought she wouldn't want to be friends with you anymore. But that night, you left your diary open and I saw what you wrote about her."
I blushed furiously.
"I wasn't that obvious..."
"You weren't that subtle," Mason teased.
"I'm happy for you."
I exhaled, feeling a weight being lifted from my shoulders.
"I was so... I thought you might..."
"Might what?"
"I thought you might hate me," I whispered, surprised to find that I was struggling to hold myself together.
"You're my little girl, Julie. Nothing you can do that would ever make me hate you."
I leaped to my feet and rushed to his side, wrapping my arms around him and allowing tears to fall.
"Thank you, Daddy," I murmured, using the name I hadn't used since I was young.
He chuckled and patted my arm. I stood up, and relief bubbling from my chest, I glanced at the faces of the people I cared about more than anything.
Except Raven.
I finally came out to my family, and they accepted me.
But, as I looked around the room, my gaze landed on Damon. There was something different etched across his face that I had never seen before. Or maybe I just never noticed it before…
Damon cleared his throat and refused to look at me.
"Excuse me,” he said, getting to his feet. My father had been talking loudly to Emily, and she was smiling ear to ear, but at Damon’s words, the room fell eerily silent. “I have a meeting to get to.”
He was heading for the door.
“Damon?" I called as my smile dropped. He didn’t stop. “Damon! Wait!”
I finally reached him and took hold of his hand to make him stop.
“I have to go, Julie,” he muttered, still not looking at me.
“No, there’s something wrong-”
“There’s nothing wrong, Julie, I just have to go!”
“I’ve upset you-”
“Not everything is about you, Julie,” Damon snapped, pulling his hand away. I finally let him go, watching him leave with a painful lump in my throat.
After lunch, which I had barely touched, I pulled Mason aside, my voice low.
"Is Damon... upset? I don’t understand… I’ve never seen him like that… the way he looked at me was like… is he disgusted by me."
Mason stared at me for a moment, then sighed.
"Julie, Damon’s not disgusted. He’s just... he has feelings for you.”
"What? Since when???”
Mason nodded. "He's liked you since he came back. That's why he wanted to settle here.”
“Because of me?”
“He's supposed to be in Australia right now, but he wanted to tell you how he felt before deciding if he should leave or stay."
I was stunned, I didn't expect that and I didn't know what to say.
I just broke Damon's heart.