Chapter 39

Chapter 39

“No thanks,” Natalie said quickly, waving off the offer.

The phone was worth a pretty penny, easily a grand or more, and she had just seen the rich kids at school showing off the latest models.

Brian had assumed that since Natalie was attending a boarding school, Audrey would have provided her with a mobile phone.

“To avoid situations like today,” Brian said succinctly.

Once Brian made up his mind about something, there was no changing it. Realizing this, Natalie didn’t protest any further. She rummaged through her bag, pulled out a report card, and handed it to him. “This is my midterm report.”

Brian had always known Natalie to be diligent and obedient, with her standardized test scores ranking third in the city. The family took pride in her achievements, and Audrey and Natalie never had to feel ashamed. To Brian, what mattered most was that Natalie worked hard and got good grades.

True to form, Natalie had outdone herself again, scoring first in her class.

“What’s that on your hand?” His concern, however, wasn’t her academics but the deep cut on her left hand as she clutched the report card.

“Just a little accident while slicing an apple,” Natalie said, pulling her hand back subconsciously. “It’s healing up fine.”

Natalie’s self–care had always been a bit of a disaster. She was the type to somehow always end up with mysterious bruises or cuts, a real klutz.

Without a word, Brian pulled out an antiseptic from a hidden compartment in his car and grabbed her hand to disinfect the wound before applying a band–aid.

Natalie watched him silently, the setting sun casting a soft glow through the car window, shadowing his face with her thick lashes. He was overwhelmingly handsome..

Brian seemed… more attentive than usual, perhaps gentler. Maybe it was because she had started coming home from boarding school once a week.

But it was also Brian who had decided she should board in the first place.

After fixing her up, Brian took the report card and got out of the car.

“I hope that starting tomorrow, Natalie won’t have to see those students again.” She saw him pull out another phone, dial a number, and heard him say just that through the haze.

Natalie clung to the car window, calling out from a distance, “Brian, I’ll wait for you to finish the parent–teacher conference so we can go home together.”

Brian gave a non–committal smile, turned, and entered the school gates, his tall figure standing

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11:15

Chapter 39

out starkly among the other parents.

Natalie woke up from a fitful sleep, sweaty and disoriented, to the incessant ringing of the landline.

She had a splitting headache, rubbing her temples. She stumbled to the video phone and hit

answer.

“Ms. Wright, you’d better come down here. There’s a kid insisting he’s your son and he won’t leave!”

Sitting on the couch, Natalie stared at the little boy perched on a stool across from her. Nate.

They had been in a standoff for a while now.

“Tell me what the housekeeper’s number is, kiddo. They must be worried about you,” Natalie said patiently, trying again.

“I don’t know,” Nate replied with a shake of his head and a pair of innocent and wide eyes.

Natalie was on the brink of losing it! How on earth did this child end up in her apartment?!

If the Howard family didn’t come to pick up Brian’s son, she’d be in handcuffs for child abduction by tomorrow!

She had her doubts about this kid being as innocent and harmless as he put on. How did he even find this place on his own? How could a three-year–old have such a great sense of direction?!