She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 124

(Sonia)

My phone screen is a useless piece of black glass.

I tap it again.

Still no response from Chase.

I spent the entire weekend in Santa Ynez pretending to care about the tasting notes of Syrah with girls I barely tolerate.

I was sure that by now Chase would have realized what he was missing.

A quiet house. A supportive partner. Not a war zone with Natasha.

Instead, absolute silence.

He keeps leaving me on read, which is just rude.

He could at least make an attempt to make it seem like he’s so busy he doesn’t have time to look at my messages.

The Uber drops me at the end of the Shell Cove driveway.

I drag my overnight bag up the stone path.

The beach house always feels hostile to me. Like it doesn’t want me here.

The way Nathanial used to wax lyrical about the family holidays they’d spent here, I expected it to be some kind of oasis.

Sure, the ocean’s pretty, but the house only has three bedrooms for goodness’ sake.

I push the front door open.

"Mom?"

She’s sitting on the edge of the sofa in the living room and all the lights are off.

The afternoon sun is fading out through the massive windows facing the ocean.

"Are you okay?" I ask, dropping my bag by the console table.

"Nathanial was right. Nat is still alive."

I freeze. This is not good news.

"What? Did that hack PI of his come up with some far-fetched story? I’ve told you, mom, he’s taking advantage of Nathanial’s stupid obsession!"

"I didn’t hear it from Nathanial."

My mother doesn't raise her voice. It's completely hollow.

"It was Ja-”

She shakes her head like there’s something she doesn’t want to face, then drops her face into her hands.

“It was someone from the hospital. The tests they did to see who would be a suitable donor for the baby. Natasha’s baby. Nathaniel is clearly related to her.”

Why the hell would they have sent someone here to tell my mother and does Nathanial know?

My life is about to be blown to smithereens.

My mother is staring at me with the most broken expression on her face.

"Sonia," she says. "Tell me you didn't know."

I want to lie.

The urge to distance myself from all of this is overwhelming, but I need help.

My mother left Nat for some reason. Maybe she’d be my ally, and help me find a way out of this.

“I found out. And I decided the best way to deal with it is to make sure she doesn’t come crashing into our lives and spoil everything.”

My mother’s eyes widen in shock.

“Don’t look at me like that! You won’t talk about why you left her, so it must be something bad.”

My mother looks down, confirming my suspicions.

“Natasha had everything I wanted and she didn’t even appreciate it. I just want her to disappear forever. Then you don’t have to worry and I can have Chase and everything will be perfect!”

My mother looks at me like she doesn't recognize my face.

But she doesn't get up.

She doesn't call the police.

She just sits there, trapped by her own complicity in abandoning that girl.

She can judge me all she wants, but she started this.

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