Wife by Day, Boss by Night by Thalia Quillspeak

Chapter 171

The hotel manager hesitated, a conflict playing across his features as he handed Natalie a small blue velvet box tied with a white satin ribbon.

“A gentleman asked me to give this to you around nine… But,” he trailed off, glancing at the clock, which showed it was nearing midnight.

Natalie’s eyes fell upon the box with curiosity and dread.

“The gentleman planned a proposal, you see. We even set up a little area there in the corner for the occasion. But it looks like he’s already left,” the manager continued, gesturing toward a nook adorned with white and pale blue balloons, a table elegantly laid with a large bouquet

of white roses.

Without a word, Natalie took the box from the manager’s outstretched hand, opened it, and found a pristine, sugar cube–sized blue diamond, the simplicity and elegance of its setting unmistakably Kellan’s taste.

Nobody needed to say his name, but she knew it was him.

Kellan had planned to propose tonight. And then, as her fiancé, he would have accompanied her to the evening’s gala. He had meticulously arranged everything for this very night. But she

him

said

the manager.

wouldn’t have succeeded. She couldn’t allow herself to be the reason for holding Kellan back.

getting any younger. Over the years, he had never seemed to have another woman by his side, always returning home to spend each day with her and Nina unless he had pressing matters to

the right person yet. Uriah had been evasive, merely commenting on Kellan’s high standards and how few met his criteria.

Natalie understand that Kellan had someone in his heart,

in the box, re–tied the ribbon, and tucked it into her purse to return to him the next

s

head down, she was startled to find someone waiting at her door.

smiled, breaking the silence first. “Natalie, isn’t it fate that we’ve stumbled upon each other in a foreign land? Aren’t you going to

Natalie

key card from her bag, swiped it through the door

7/2

15:38

Chapter 171