Wife by Day, Boss by Night

Brian was chatting with Herbert in the cozy study when he heard the faint sound of his mother, Karin, stepping into the house. He glanced over and acknowledged her softly.

“Mom,” he murmured.

“Nate’s asleep?” Karin inquired gently.

“Yeah,” Brian nodded in confirmation.

“I'll go check on him,” she said, and with a brief look at Brian, she went toward the stairs. Pausing halfway, she added in a low voice, “Let her in, Brian. It's freezing outside.”

Herbert, who had been practicing his painting, hesitated at the mention of letting Natalie in. A drop of paint fell from his brush, blotting the fine parchment he worked on. Shaking his head, he chuckled, “Guess I'm not as spry as I used to be. Can't even paint without creating a mess. Age does sneak up on you...”All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

A hint of discomfort colored Karin's features, but she didn’t comment further and ascended the stairs.

Audrey had ruined Karin's marriage to Kenneth. And in her fiery rage years ago, Karin had chosen to end the life of her unborn child rather than forgive. Naturally, she held no warmth for Audrey's daughter, Natalie.

But it was a curious change. She'd allowed Natalie to enter their home.

“Take her to the guest room,” Brian told Reid, who stood by the front door.

Herbert tossed the ruined parchment aside, noting dryly. “We don’t have many rooms. Decide where you'll sleep tonight.”

Brian remained silent.

Herbert had a point. The house they got years ago was all the same. There were four rooms. One was for Herbert, one for Nate, and one for the help.

With Natalie taking another, Brian would have no place to sleep.

“Nate was asking for her before bed. He won't let her leave tonight,” Herbert observed, glancing at Brian.

“That's right,” Brian replied softly.

“That old coot Davis, thinking he could send my great-grandson away without my consent. Ridiculous! Herbert spilled a couple more drops of paint, ruining another painting, then threw down his brush in frustration. “If that's the case, let Nate move in here. Better than having him troubled over at the Howard family.”

“I didn’t know he had such plans,” Brian said after a pause.

He knew Davis didn't care for Nate but hadn't realized he had such schemes in mind. He would never have left Nate with the Howard family if he had known it.

“That's because Davis never intended to discuss it with us. If Natalie hadn't taken it upon herself to send Nate over...” Herbert trailed off, sighing deeply before continuing, “At my age, I've seen my fair share of people and can see more clearly than you youngsters. If she didn’t care for Nate, she wouldn't have risked angering me by having Reid bring the boy here.”

Natalie's actions proved that she still cared for Nate.

Brian thought Natalie was heartless, but Herbert didn’t see it that way,

When Brian first brought Nate home, he left the child in the Morales family

5 5 3 , alone for a while. Davis didn't welcome the boy, and seeing Nate in distress only convinced Herbert of Si :

the child's innocence.

Moreover, how could Natalie, a young woman barely in her twenties, raise a child on her own in a foreign land?

She had her studies and her survival to contend with. Leaving the child with

Brian was the right choice.

But because of the issues with the Howard family, Brian resented Audrey and Natalie. Knowing he

) 5 5

couldn't persuade him otherwise, Herbert rarely tried, especially after hearing a few words from Reid that on)

afternoon about Natalie's return. She had been kind to Nate, far more attentive

than other women.