Chatper 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 thetest 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 sinctly.


    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 ss.


    “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 ident 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 hiddenpartment 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 thickshes. He was overwhelmingly handsome..


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Brian seemed… more attentive than usual, perhaps gentler. Maybe it was because she had started


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


    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 nonmittal smile, turned, and entered the school gates, his tall figure standing


    1/2


    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 thendline.


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


    answer.


    “Ms. Wright, you’d bettere 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’te 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 ce on his own? How could a three-year–old have such a great sense of direction?!