Wife by Day, Boss by Night by Thalia Quillspeak

Chapter 74
Natalie had promised she’d be over tonight.
She was the kind of person who followed through. He had seen her picking gifts for kids. She was reliable, so he knew she’d
come.
As long as Nate was happy and could fulfill his wishes, everything was worth it. Everyone else. paled in importance.
The minutes ticked away, and the night deepened.
Nate wasn’t sure how long he had been sitting at the back door, his little cheeks numb from the cold, his eyes heavy and
struggling to stay open, yet no one had appeared.
The maid found him there, shivering, and scooped him up. “Mr. Nate, what are you doing out here in the cold? Didn’t you want
cake?”
“Just a bit longer!” Nate suddenly found a burst of energy, squirming in the maid’s arms before sliding back to the ground,
pushing her hands away. “Go inside! Leave me alone!”
The cake would have to wait for Natalie to arrive, for her to cut a slice for him. He wanted to light the candles with Mommy and
make a wish together. No one else would do.
Natalie had said that when the moon rose, she would appear.
Taken aback by Nate’s unusual behavior, the maid suggested, “It’s so chilly out here. Why don’t we go inside and get you a warm
sweater?”

“No!” Nate stubbornly refused. What if Natalie came while he was inside changing, saw that he hadn’t waited for her, and left
upset?
Dad always said that women were a puzzle and that you shouldn’t make them sad without good reason. So, he had to wait for
Natalie.
Not wanting to force the issue, the maid finally retreated into the house at Nate’s insistence. stealing glances from the doorway
at the little boy sitting with determination in his vigil.
Nate hadn’t fully recovered from his cold, and with his delicate constitution, it wasn’t hard for his sickness to make a comeback.
Seeing him out there, looking all wilted and pitiful, the maid knew he must feel unwell.
She was thinking of scooping him up once he fell asleep when Brian’s voice suddenly cut through, “Go inside.”
The staff looked back to see Brian, his face cloud of worry and anger. They knew better than to breathe too loudly around him,
and they stepped back, leaving a hush in their wake.
Brian gazed at the empty street for a long moment before he went and stood behind Nate. He bent down and lifted his son into
his arms.
Earlier, Miller had phoned in to report that Natalie had encountered an emergency and needed
Chapter 74
to leave the country.
He had checked her flight. Indeed, she had left at seven that evening and was already far from home.

Nate felt the chill down to his bones, his energy sapped, and he didn’t even muster the strength to resist.
Barely keeping his eyes open, he saw Brian was holding him, and the light that had sparked at the recognition faded just as
quickly.
He rested his head on his father’s shoulder, murmuring weakly. “Daddy, Nate has to keep his promise...”
“She’s not coming, son.” Brian tightened his hold on Nate’s limp body, his voice a soft murmur. It was as if he was speaking to
himself yet answering Nate’s unspoken fear.
The one who had broken a promise wasn’t Nate, it was her.
Brian had known she was stone–hearted, yet he’d fooled himself, giving her chance after chance.
From the day she had abandoned her child, she must have decided to be done with them both. just as she had said that night it
was his son, not hers.
Even though Nate wanted to see her and hear her wish him a happy birthday, a small and humble wish, she couldn’t grant even
that.
Carrying his son upstairs, Brian paused as the clock in the living room struck the hour. He turned his head, looking through the
glass doors again at the back entrance. It remained empty.
She hadn’t come until midnight.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are beginning our descent. Please ensure your seat belts are fastened...”
Natalie jerked awake to the sound of the flight attendant’s announcement, her dream breaking like a nightmare, her skin slick
with a cold sweat.