Wife by Day, Boss by Night by Thalia Quillspeak

Chapter 201

Natalie gasped for air as she sat up in bed, fumbling for the lamp switch. Her hand found the bottle of painkillers she kept on her nightstand, which was a constant companion. She washed down a pill with a gulp of water from the glass on her desk.

As she lay back down, she noticed the sweat from the pain had drenched her shirt. Out of habit, she reached for her phone to check the time, only to remember Brian had smashed it into pieces.

Maybe it was for the best. After all, Natalie had been trying to figure out how to get rid of the tracking app he had installed without arousing suspicion. As the painkillers kicked in, her hand’s throbbing eased, and she drifted back into a fitful sleep.

Outside her room, a bodyguard addressed his employer in a hushed tone. “Mr. Howard…”

Brian motioned for silence with a finger to his lips, listening to Natalie resettling in bed. After a moment, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Natalie was asleep, her face creased with discomfort as if she could still feel the pain. Brian stood by the bed, his gaze lingering on her for a long moment before quietly sitting at the edge. Bagot had mentioned Natalie’s hand was injured. Brian gently picked up her bandaged hand sticking out of the covers. The dressing was poorly done, stained with blood seeping through the gauze.

He unwrapped the soiled bandage to find her fingertips swollen at the cuts. She hadn’t taken any antibiotics. Even after all these years, she still didn’t know how to look after herself.

up, his eyes meeting her calm face. She didn’t wake but seemed to

↑

in her

over him. He took her into his arms and whispered

and soon her breathing evened out as she found a more comfortable position and fell into a

a child, the little mute girl he remembered would often have nightmares and climb into his bed, seeking

out the furrows on her forehead before planting a kiss on her brow.

if she hadn’t lied and there was nothing between her and Gavin, Brian couldn’t stand her closeness to any other man. The thought of Michael wanting Natalie to be part of the James family was

Chapter 201

unbearable.

pretense of friendship was

him. He wouldn’t allow them the chance to get close to her.

found Rosie in her room,

to sit up, Natalie winced at the pain in her hand and instinctively glanced at it, only to notice that