Chatper 42


    Chapter 42


    Natalie remained silent.


    “Is Nate tucked in?” He thought for a moment, then whispered softly.


    “Just went to bed.” Natalie deliberately lowered her voice, softer than usual, “I was about to help him


    change into his pajamas.”


    “Got a call from his teacher.” Brian spoke after a brief pause, showing an effort to start a conversation,


    “Why did he get into a fight?”


    “Just a little tiff with those kids,” Natalie replied evasively.


    The subject of Nate’s mom was a tricky one for Natalie and Brian to discuss, so she decided to drop it


    altogether.


    Brian knew she was dodging the question and fell silent. If it hadn’t been for Audrey, perhaps this


    would’ve been the life Brian always wanted.


    But Audrey and her appearance had been nothing but a sham from start to finish.


    He was about to continue when he felt a twinge of pain in the corner of his mouth where Natalie had hit


    him the day before. He touched it instinctively, “Ouch…”


    Natalie heard the strain in his voice but said nothing.


    “Brian?” From a short distance away, Remington’s mother called out to Brian softly, gesturing to the


    fruit bowl in her hand. Brian waved her off, indicating he wasn’t interested.


    Natalie heard a woman’s voice and thought he was with Madelyn, so she politely said, “You go ahead


    with what you’re doing. I can help you look after the kid for a few days.” With that, she hung up.


    A flicker of annoyance passed through Brian as he stared at the darkened screen of his phone,


    frowning.


    What did she mean? Help him?


    “You guys just separated for an hour or two, why the phone call again?” Quinton teased Brian as he


    walked in.


    Brian ignored him, heading straight through the living room and out the door without a word.


    “Someone has got a short fuse,” Quinton muttered under his breath as he watched Brian leave.


    Remington thoughtfully nced in the direction Brian had disappeared, then quietly said, “He wasn’t


    calling Madelyn.”


    “Then it must be Gracia, huh?”


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    But Remington just smiled slightly and kept silent.


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    11.16


    Chapter 42


    Quinton didn’t understand Brian as well, but Remington knew Brian wasn’t this gentle with Gracia.


    To this observer, although Brian never spoke the word ‘love‘, it was clear he was deeply smitten, even if


    he didn’t know it himself.


    Yet, he also resented how Audrey and Natalie had shattered the Howard family. Theseplex


    emotions made it hard for Brian to find a bnce.


    One could only call it karma.


    At 3 a.m., Natalie stirred from her sleep and felt as though someone was watching her, making her


    ufortable. She sat up groggily.


    Nate was sleeping soundly beside her, resting his head on her arm.


    As Natalie reached for the nightlight, suddenly, someone grabbed her hand from the side of the bed.


    She shuddered, instinctively ready to defend herself, but then she was enveloped by a familiar scent,


    “Don’t move.”


    Recognizing Brian’s voice, she rxed and stopped struggling. In the dim light, she looked at Brian and


    whispered, “Are you here for Nate?”


    But Brian just stared at her, silent.


    Natalie frowned, puzzled by his intense gaze, “Sorry for interrupting your evening. I should’ve been


    more proactive and taken Nate over to the Howard family earlier.”


    ‘Interrupting your evening?‘


    At her words, Brian darkened his expression instantly.


    “Natalie, sometimes I want to cut open your heart and to have a look.” He tightened his grip on her


    hand, pulling her to her feet.


    Natalie winced in pain but bit her lip and remained quiet.


    “Besides, since I’ve been disturbed, shouldn’t you be the one to make amends?” He snaked an arm


    around her waist and hissed into her ear menacingly.