Chatper 1


    Chapter 1


    “Natalie Wright!”


    The sharp bark of her name jolted Natalie awake, and her eyes snapped open to meet a pair of


    brooding, dark eyes.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    She blinked, disoriented for a few seconds, before realizing where she was.


    Brian Howard’s gaze fell on her petite figure, and his pupils contracted sharply. Without a word, he


    grabbed a nket and tossed it at her.


    Natalie scrambled beneath the covers, her clear eyes quickly misting with tears.


    She watched Brian rise from the bed, his back to her as he strode into the bathroom. Feeling adrift, she


    managed to utter a single word, “Brian…”


    Her voice trailed off as Brian’s icy stare cut through her. “Brian?” His tone was too cold, too cutting, and


    Natalie’s heart skipped a beat, prompting her to correct herself hastily, “Mr. Howard…”


    She remembereding homest night to a power outage. Brian dragged her into his room before


    she could make sense of it. She wasn’t sure if he was drunk or what, but she could smell a faint hint of


    whiskey and something metallic like blood in the darkness.


    The night was a blur, a nightmare.


    Just as she tried to exin, she caught sight of a long, bloody gash across Brian’s muscr abdomen.


    Before she could get a clear look, Brian turned, grabbed her chin with a fierce grip, and growled,


    “Natalie, do you think you can win me over like this?!”


    “No, I…” She began to protest. But her plea was cut short by the look of distaste that shed across his


    eyes.


    Natalie’s heart sank as she met his unguarded expression, and then she froze.


    From outside the door came the surprised voice of the housekeeper, Sadie, “Isn’t this Miss Natalie’s


    dress? How did it end up here?”


    Brian released Natalie and tossed her a shirt, his voicemanding. “Put this on and get out.”


    What? He wanted her to leave with the house full of people, huh? They would notice!


    Natalie’s panic rose, and she started to tremble, tears streaming down her face. She clutched at Brian’s


    arm, pleading softly, “Can you just listen to me, please? Last night, I…‘


    But Brian shook off her hand with a force that sent her tumbling back onto the bed, his face a mask of


    frost. “Natalie, you’re just like your mother.”


    His words stung more than the physical jolt.


    1/2


    Chapter 1


    When she was a child, she couldn’t understand or intervene in her parents‘ affairs. She only


    remembered begging them not to divorce, but they did anyway.


    They were not weed when her mother brought her to the Howard family at six. Her mother urged


    her to ingratiate herself with the aloof young master so they could secure a ce in the Howard family,


    and she did just that..


    She knew Brian had never liked her, always finding her as annoying as a shadow. Yet, even with his


    cold nature, he had never looked at her with such disgust.


    Natalie couldn’t fathom what had gone wrong. Her mind went nk, and she couldn’t


    understand why Brian had changed so much in just a few days. Thest time she saw him, he had


    promised to bring her favorite Danish pastries.


    “You have ten seconds. Get out!” Brian’s voice was a growl, and his teeth clenched as he red


    at her.


    Natalie stared back at him, her heart suddenly ice cold.