Wife by Day, Boss by Night by Thalia Quillspeak

Chapter 38

When Natalie got home, she was feeling tired again. The last couple of days had been rough with her relatives visiting. It was a recurring nightmare every time they showed up over the

past three years.

If it hadn’t been for Nate, she would have gladly stayed indoors the entire time.

She made herself a cup of hot chocolate to soothe her pains and crashed on the couch. As the warmth offered a faint comfort, she slipped into a restless sleep.

“…your guardian has to come, it’s mandatory,” the voice echoed in her hazy dreamn, transporting her back to when she was fifteen.

The teacher had been insistent. One of her parents had to show up.

“There’s no way I’m going to that parent–teacher conference. You’re not even a Wright anymore. Let your mom handle it.” came Samuel’s irritable voice over the phone.

Natalie gripped the receiver, her silence lasting a few seconds before she spoke, “My mom… she left the country a couple of days ago. It wouldn’t be right to ask Kenneth to go.”

Stop bugging me with this nonsense!” Samuel

stepped out of the

living in, using a public phone booth?” a group of snickering girls from her class

but kept silent. Her silence seemed to irk the girls, who took it as a slight. They couldn’t understand why Natalie, whose mother was

has been with that guy for ten years without

nor her dad wants her. She doesn’t even have anyone to show up for a

parent–teacher conference day. The school had let out early at four, and students had brought their parents back to the classrooms. Natalie, however,

head slightly bowed, she made

followed, their whispers and taunts

home once a week. Her bag

bus

Chapter 38

in front

at the girls behind Natalie before turning his attention to her and asked sternly. “Why didn’t you tell me about the parent–teacher

before softly calling out to the