She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40 You Were Mine First

(Natasha)

The drawing room buzzes with the sound of Eleanor’s guests.

The string quartet is playing a lively, hollow tune. But the social adrenaline is fading from my bloodstream.

Chase hasn’t come back and I can only assume he’s spending the night with Sonia.

I don’t know why I’m even allowing that space in my head.

I leave Lily with the night nurse and go looking for a quiet corner to breathe.

The second-floor corridor is shut tight against the noise below.

A sliver of warm light spills from the corner study.

I push the door open and find Nathanial Morton slumped in a leather wingback chair.

A half-empty crystal decanter rests beside him.

The usually pristine corporate shark is drowning himself in scotch, and I doubt he’d like an audience.

He holds a phone to his ear and looks like a man on the brink of a breakdown.

I stay out of sight, wanting to make sure he’s okay before I leave him to it.

His knuckles are white. His tie is missing. The top buttons of his shirt are undone.

“Fine. I’ll see you at Christmas,” Nathanial slurs.

His crisp, authoritative tone is gone. The sharp edges are blunted by alcohol and grief.

“But she won’t come. You know she won’t.”

He drops the phone onto his lap and his head falls back against the leather.

The glass in his hand tilts and a few drops of amber liquid spill onto the expensive rug.

He doesn’t notice. I doubt he’d care if he did.

Before I can decide whether to stay or leave, he snatches the phone back up and jabs at the screen with an unsteady finger.

“Gloria,” he breathes.

The single word holds great weight. It sounds like a lifeline.

“I need… I can’t drive home. I’m at the Warren Estate. Please come get me.”

He nods slowly, listening to whatever Gloria is telling him, his eyes squeezed shut.

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

The phone drops to the floor and he leaves it there, covering his face with both hands.

A ragged exhale shudders through his broad shoulders and I step back into the hallway.

Nobody deserves to be watched when they’re at their worst.

+15 Bgnus

Choo No rou Were Me Tit

Half an hour later, Gloria arrives. Her trench coat is belted tight against the December chill.

ush over tu greet her before Eleanor sees her and causes a scene at having a party crasher.

“He’s upstairs,” I tell her quietly, “I’ll take you to him.”

Piper intercepts us just as we reach the stairs.

Her posture is rigid and her manicured hands are curled into fists at her sides.

The hostility radiating from her is a physical force.

“What are you doing here?” Piper demands. Her voice is a harsh, trembling whisper.

Gloria stops, and my usually unflappable friend looks upset.

Her gaze drops to Piper’s clenched fists, then up to her face.

“Nathanial called me,” Gloria says.

A soft, wicked chuckle drifts down from the landing.

Julian leans casually against the banister, holding a fresh drink.

“The golden boy called you?” Julian asks.

His voice carries easily over the low hum of the party.

“And you actually came running. How touching.”

+15 Bonus

Piper ignores her brother. Her glare stays locked on Gloria and the intensity contorting her sharp features is startling.

This is more than just anger. It looks like raw, agonizing betrayal.

“He snapped his fingers, and here you are,” Piper accuses.

Her voice cracks. “Like a loyal dog.” 1

“Piper, let me pass,” Gloria says evenly. Her tight grip on her handbag betrays her tension.

“Nathanial’s not doing well right now.”

“He ruined everything!” Piper hisses.

Gloria reaches out. Her hand hovers inches from Piper’s arm, but she doesn’t complete the touch.

“It wasn’t that simple,” Gloria murmurs.

“It was,” Piper fires back.

“He’s always taken everything from me. My father. My position in the company. But you…”

Her voice drops. It splinters into a thousand sharp pieces. “…I knew you first.”

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