Chapter 40

Chapter 40

“Your dad’s gonna freak out, you know. Come on, let’s head back!” she pleaded with all the patience of a saint.

And to make matters worse, she never had kids, yet now even the doorman thought she had a three–year–old son! How on earth was she supposed to live this down?

“I’m not going.” Nate pouted stubbornly.

Without another word, he dragged a little stool over to Natalie and sat down. “Nate’s hungry.”

It was well past six, Natalie herself was famished, let alone the kid. She sighed, resigning herself to the situation, and told Nate firmly, “We’ll have dinner, but then you have to go home. No funny business.”

Reaching for her phone, she was about to order some takeout.

But then she glanced at the little boy with his pitiful puppy dog eyes, putting her phone away after thinking twice. She stood up, walked over to the fridge, and rummaged for some veggies and spaghetti.

She could make do with a quick bite from some delivery service, but the kid needed a proper meal.

After washing the veggies, she turned back to the living room and was stunned to find Nate had managed to turn on the TV, finding his way to the cartoon channel, and was now seriously engrossed in an animation.

Was her house haunted? Her TV had parental controls. How did he crack them?

She paused for a few seconds, then shook her head with a self–deprecating smile. Maybe she’d forgotten to lock it.

She whipped up a quick spaghetti with tomatoes. As the water in the pot began to boil for the pasta, she pulled out her phone again.

She didn’t have the Howard family’s contact information, but she remembered ‘Brian’s old number.

He had given her a phone back in the day, with only his number saved. For a long time, he was the only one she ever called. That string of digits was like a tattoo on her heart, impossible to forget.

After hesitating for a couple of minutes, she dialed the number.

Taking a deep breath, she held the phone to her ear.

“Hello?” About ten seconds later, a deep and familiar voice answered.

Natalie bit her lip, then said, “It’s me, Natalie. Your son’s with me.” After she quickly explained

the past two days, Brian was silent for a few seconds before replying, “He can stay with you for

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Chapter 40

now. I’ll let the family know.”

“But…”

“I’m abroad, not convenient right now.” And with that, he ended the call.

Staring at her phone in disbelief, Natalie wondered if he was being too casual. Didn’t he worry she might kidnap his son and demand a ridiculous ransom?

The pot almost boiled over. Natalie scrambled to turn off the gas and sighed as she served up the pasta and scrambled eggs.

“Papa,” Nate turned to look at her, pointing at someone on the entertainment news with a big grin.

Natalie set the table and glanced at the TV. It was showing a live entertainment broadcast, with a woman clutching Brian’s arm, apparently at some film festival’s red carpet event.

Brian hadn’t lied. He really was abroad.

She watched him adjust a wireless earbud in his left ear. He must have been at the event when he took her call, which explained the background noise she heard.

She took another look at the glamorous woman by his side, then nonchalantly said to Nate, “Time for spaghetti.”

Nate scampered over with his little legs, exclaiming, “Smells good!”

Natalie eyed the less–than–picture–perfect scrambled eggs and raised an eyebrow. This kid must be buttering her up. Even that dish got a compliment.

Nate climbed onto the chair, waiting politely for Natalie to serve him. As he took his bowl, he instinctively said, “Thanks, Mommy!”

Natalie froze once more, turning to look at Nate.

Chapter 40

now. I’ll let the family know.”

“But…”

“I’m abroad, not convenient right now.” And with that, he ended the call.

Staring at her phone in disbelief, Natalie wondered if he was being too casual. Didn’t he worry she might kidnap his son and demand a ridiculous ransom?

The pot almost boiled over. Natalie scrambled to turn off the gas and sighed as she served up the pasta and scrambled eggs.

“Papa,” Nate turned to look at her, pointing at someone on the entertainment news with a big grin.

Natalie set the table and glanced at the TV. It was showing a live entertainment broadcast, with a woman clutching Brian’s arm, apparently at some film festival’s red carpet event.

Brian hadn’t lied. He really was abroad.

She watched him adjust a wireless earbud in his left ear. He must have been at the event when he took her call, which explained the background noise she heard.

She took another look at the glamorous woman by his side, then nonchalantly said to Nate, “Time for spaghetti.”

Nate scampered over with his little legs, exclaiming, “Smells good!”

Natalie eyed the less–than–picture–perfect scrambled eggs and raised an eyebrow. This kid must be buttering her up. Even that dish got a compliment.

Nate climbed onto the chair, waiting politely for Natalie to serve him. As he took his bowl, he instinctively said, “Thanks, Mommy!”

Natalie froze once more, turning to look at Nate.