Wife by Day, Boss by Night by Thalia Quillspeak

Chapter 16

Matthew coughed a few times, his voice gruff with a rasp. “Samuel, have you ever considered that she’s your daughter too? You knew what kind of woman Audrey was, yet you let her take Natalie to the Howard family. This mess is on you as a father, not Natalie’s fault.”

“My fault? Did you not see how Natalie used to bully Gracia when they were kids at home? Keeping her here would be unfair to Gracia and Lydia!”

Matthew coughed again, more violently this time, as if something got stuck in his throat.

Ignoring the tension, Natalie pushed the door open so forcefully that it banged against the wall. The sudden noise startled everyone inside.

Samuel stood up, ready to explode in anger, but he swallowed his words when he saw Natalie walking in with an icy expression. Natalie treated him like he was invisible, walked straight to Matthew’s bedside, and put the medicine on the nightstand.

“I just picked up these meds from a friend. Combined with the ones I brought from abroad yesterday, they should work better. Grandpa, try taking them in a bit,” Natalie said softly. noticing a stark red stain on the handkerchief Matthew was clutching.

“Since when do you have friends abroad?” Samuel couldn’t help but ask.

“Is that any of your business?” Natalie turned her head, her cold gaze sweeping over Samuel.

Matthew was in such pain, coughing up blood, and Samuel could still say such heartless things in front of him. What a loving son!

“Natalie, you…” Samuel’s brows knotted in frustration.

“Also, about how Shawn insulted the Wright family last night, Mr. Wright, you can ask Joseph yourself. If you think Shawn is so great, fine, let Gracia marry him instead, or you can marry him yourself.” Natalie said sneeringly, cutting him off.

Samuel’s face turned red with anger. “What kind of talk is that?”

“I’m sorry, but I prefer not to pick through leftovers in a trash heap,” Natalie replied coldly.

When the time comes, I’ll bring a decent gentleman home to meet you. Just

I should have been more careful in understanding people’s true

Howard family, Natalie’s future had become a constant worry for Matthew. With his recent diagnosis of late–stage lung cancer,

her last

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tormented him.

your fault. You can’t always judge a book by its cover,” Natalie said with a reassuring smile, then poured him a glass of water, opened a box

ghost in the room for all the attention Natalie gave

subside. Natalie breathed a sigh of relief. She had spent

lessen his suffering as

icily. “Since my presence in the Wright family seems to discomfort you all, I’ll move out. Don’t worry. You won’t have to suffer the sight of me just as much as I’d

manage on your own?” Matthew asked with concern when he heard her

off while attending the Film Academy. The roles weren’t

Matthew, Natalie returned to

always been inconvenient, and it was only a matter of time before they noticed something was up. Today’s events offered the perfect chance

have much to pack, which made leaving easier. As Natalie sorted through her clothes, her phone

–

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

stood up and double–locked her bedroom

the

Natalie replied curtly as she packed her clothes into her suitcase. “I was careless this time. But did you find out how

at that hotel?”

with a hint of defeat. His tone shifted suddenly, “Where are you now? You didn’t return to the so–called ‘home‘ of yours,