Wife by Day, Boss by Night by Thalia Quillspeak

Chapter 39

“No thanks,” Natalie said quickly, waving off the offer.

The phone was worth a pretty penny, easily a grand or more, and she had just seen the rich kids at school showing off the latest models.

Brian had assumed that since Natalie was attending a boarding school, Audrey would have provided her with a mobile phone.

“To avoid situations like today,” Brian said succinctly.

Once Brian made up his mind about something, there was no changing it. Realizing this, Natalie didn’t protest any further. She rummaged through her bag, pulled out a report card, and handed it to him. “This is my midterm report.”

Brian had always known Natalie to be diligent and obedient, with her standardized test scores ranking third in the city. The family took pride in her achievements, and Audrey and Natalie never had to feel ashamed. To Brian, what mattered most was that Natalie worked hard and got good grades.

True to form, Natalie had outdone herself again, scoring first in her class.

“What’s that on your hand?” His concern, however, wasn’t her academics but the deep cut on her left hand as she clutched the report card.

“Just a little accident while slicing an apple,” Natalie said, pulling her hand back subconsciously. “It’s healing up fine.”

a bit of a disaster. She was the type to somehow always end up with mysterious

compartment in his car and grabbed her hand to disinfect the wound before applying a

through the car window, shadowing his face

usual, perhaps gentler. Maybe it was because she

was also Brian who had decided she should board in the

report card and

tomorrow, Natalie won’t have to see those students again.” She saw him pull out another phone,

car window, calling out from a distance, “Brian, I’ll wait for you to finish the parent–teacher conference so we can go home together.”

a non–committal smile, turned, and entered the

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11:15

Chapter 39

starkly among the other

sweaty and

her temples. She stumbled to the

answer.