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.”

He’s your dad now. Stop bugging me with this nonsense!” Samuel was curt and the line went

stepped out of the phone booth, a relic in an age where almost

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

at them but kept silent. Her silence seemed to irk the girls, who took it as a slight. They couldn’t

that guy for ten years without marrying him. What’s she so proud

like neither her mom nor her dad wants her. She doesn’t even have anyone to

at four, and students had brought their parents back to the classrooms. Natalie,

made her way towards the school

their whispers and taunts continuing to chase

would head home once a week. Her bag was so heavy it left red marks on her hands, her fingers swollen and

road to cross to the bus stop on the other side, she

Chapter 38

in front of

before turning his attention to her and

her bag, Natalie took a few seconds before softly calling out to