SWNOVELS Wife by Day Boss by Night by Thalia Quillspeax Chapter 182
hapter 182
Natalie dragged her suitcase from the tax and had barely reached the front gate of Majestie Meadows Manor when she spotted a familiar car parked outside.
She gazed at the car momentarily, her steps slowing to a half.
Sadie, who had just returned from grocery shopping, hurried over upon seeing Natalle: “Miss Natale, you’re back” she exclaimed.
Natale stayed quiet, shifting her gaze to Sadie, who seemed somewhat distressed. Sadie glanced back at Natalie, her hesitation hinting at some unsald words that she was struggling
to voice out.
Just as she was about to pull Natalie aside to talk, a familiar voice echoed from the doorway. “Sadie, why are you standing at the door? Nate’s awake. Go dress him, will you?”
Natalie turned around to meet the challenging gaze of Madelyn, who looked down at her with a sense of confrontation.
Madelyn was back.
And if Madelyn was back, Natalie knew it wasn’t her place to stay.
She smiled at Sadie and said, “Go ahead to dress Nate. You can’t let the little guy catch a cold, especially not when Madelyn is around.”
She didn’t want to dig into why Madelyn had suddenly returned. Someone must have given her the green light if she dared to return.
Overhearing the commotion from upstairs, Nate had scampered down in his pajamas and slippers. Seeing Natalie about to leave with her suitcase, he called out with delight, “Natalie!”
Natalie paused, turning back to Nate with a smile. “Be a good boy, Nate. Go back inside and get dressed before you come out, okay?”
It was apparent to Nate that Natalie was leaving. He stood at the door, and she didn’t come in, which meant only one thing.
The standoff lingered until Nate, his little brow furrowed, said, “Come back home, Natalie!”
This was the home of Madelyn, Brian, and their son Nate – not a place Natalie could call her own. And with Nate’s real mom, Madelyn, standing right there, Natalie had no claim to coax him.
“Go on. Get dressed like a good boy, and I’ll go home,” Natalie assured him with a smile and said tenderly, “I like kids who listen.”
Nate pondered for a while before reluctantly turning back toward the room. He gave Madelyn no more than a glance as if she were thin air.
Madelyn couldn’t help but frown. The mother and son were cut from the same cloth, both
12:03
equally irritating in her eyes.
A few steps in Nate paused, sensing something amiss. He turned toward the door and spotted Natale walking away with her suitcase.
He froze briefly, then cried out loudly. “Don’t go, Natalie!”
Natalie, already a distance away, steeled her heart and didn’t look back.
“Natalie” Nate’s voice tore through the air as he called after her.
Natalie’s heart leaped, her grip tightening on the suitcase handle, her pace quickening.
her
“Natalie, please don’t go!” Nate’s cries became a heart–wrenching sob, and it sounded as if he were chasing after her down the stairs.
Natalie couldn’t hold back anymore. She turned to look just in time to see Nate miss a step and tumble down the half–flight of stairs. She froze for a second, dropped her suitcase, and dashed forward, her actions outpacing her thoughts. Just as Nate was about to hit the bottom step beadfirst, she caught him by the shoulders.
ate was already safe in her arms when she realized what had happened.
Slapping her thigh in a delayed reaction, Sadie rushed over. She began checking Nate for injuries, bombarding him with questions, “Are you hurt? Did you hit your head?”
Natalie’s heart pounded like never before, and her breath caught in her throat. The close call left her shaken to the core.