The Billionaire’s Twins Play Matchmaker – Chapter 3

“Julius, you look like hell.”

With a sigh he turned to face an older version of himself. March was ten years his senior and growing up the brothers had been quite close. Their connection remained to this day. Standing next to each other it was not difficult to see the family resemblance: sandy blonde hair, gray eyes, prominent nose, chin and jaw. They could almost be twins.

Julius gave his brother a warning look before sipping his whiskey. All around them were people dressed in fine suits and summer dresses despite the lingering chill of spring. The air had a party feel with balloons and even a DJ as they crowded the wide, stone patio surrounding the pool of the DaLair family estate. A large sign declared: Happy Birthday, Augustus!

s to his enemies but exceptionally generous to his friends. Everyone strived to be on his good side hence the dedicated attendance for the day’s festivities.

ed smiling as a much younger version of themselves approached. Jude DaLair was nineteen. The only son of March and his loving wife Rose he was something of a miracle. March and Rose had struggled to conceive and the pregnancy had been

w Hampshire.

rch exclaimed wrapping his son in a bea

of Jude’s birth he was resigned to one progeny but March would never give up the happy years with his son and wife.

ckled hugging him back.

father and uncle Jude had been raised to cherish close filial ties.

“Hey nephew,”

up.

-your-son-to-work day.”

”

e an excuse.

e you say hi before you disappear.”

ch of his mother.

’t it?” March said quietly when they were alone again.

t it never worked. The collapse of Julius’s marriage made news six years ago yet was all but forgotten now. Still not even March knew the whole truth: that she had been pregnant at the time. It was a secret Julius simply couldn’t bear to tell.

wled.

ow you feel but…”

u have no idea how I feel,” Julius

irting with some other guy.

ther’s marriage, until it all came crumbling apart.

Okay, you’re right. I don’t. But you might have to face facts. You might not ever see her again.”

think it makes it easier?”

h Katherine?”

rs away.”

d what about the w

hat would send her a clear message.

elp Julius finally realize the truth about Macey’s true feelings but it had all come crashing down. Only now in her absence did Julius realize how much she meant to him but it was too late. If March could turn back time he knew he would have done more to help his brother. Instead of waiting for Julius to figure out the truth he should have just told him.

earance. “Happy Birthday!”

ntly shallow and deceptive was beyond him. Out loud he declared, “And exactly what’s so happy about it? Last thing I want

small woman. Short and almost rail thin. Her lack of weight had always been a health concern but it didn’t matter what she ate she hardly gained a pound. Despite that she was a successful real-estate agent

. “You are right. Forgive this cranky old man.”

rly smiled.

ining them to try and ease the tension.

welcomed his grandson with a hearty hug completely forgetting the woman who constantly irrit

favor and never once received so much as a grin from him. He was ruthless in his rejection and without Julius to contradict him or support her no one else dared stand against Aug

m to the death. It was well-known he always wanted a large family and had he not lost his wife so early he might have had ten kids and still not been satisfied. After his

ntrums were well known to the patriarch she might have curtailed her childish behavior though it wouldn’t have secured her place within the DaLair family. Augus

ered crowd murmured quietly amongst itself. A few shot Katherine sympathetic looks but most averted their eyes. None dared defend her for fear of incurring hi

ell as secretary, valet, chauffeur and, some said, body guard. Though the last title was told as a joke the truth of the matter was Stephen was also a veteran and highly trained or else he wouldn’t have caught Augustus’s eye. It was not a stretch to say no man was closer to the patriarch than Stephen save his sons.

d he eagerly turned to his aide saying, “Are they really?”

se at his heels. Rose let him go with a conflicted look on her face. It wasn’t like Augustus to interrupt such a gathering for business but in the interest of reducing the guests’ tension she let him go.

ors and remained outside guarding it from entry.

de him smile broadly.

-olds declared as soon as they saw him through the Skype connection.

scals!” he chuckled.

ures were nearly identical to his father his sister had softer features inherited from their mother. The girl possessed her mother’s vibrant red hair and bountiful curls but her gray eyes definitely belonged to her father.

ay?” the girl asked.

ve been missing you both so much!”

ared.

ustus asked.

Ah, that

pecial present for you, grandpa,” the girl s

do you?”

creen as her brother carefully set up his keyboard. Placing his hands on the keys he played Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. Augustus sat back as the all too familiar chords echoed around him. His s

oi.”

person. How he would have loved to see his grandchildren sing and play their song in front of the stunned crowd.

her.

smiled.

soon,” Augustus promised. “You be good for your mother now. I don’t want to hear about any shenanigans.”

be good too! Love you!”

savoring the memory of his grandson’s expert piano playing and his granddaughter’s clear, sweet voice. It took him five years but he finally convinced his wayward daughter-in-law to return home. He could only guess at the fireworks that would begin once they set foot in the States.

euppance and if he had any sense at all…he would take advantage of this opportunity. Things were about to get very interesting.