Chapter 7

"I just heard a rumor in the ER. Apparently, the Spencers' daughter, Ms. Sienna, got hurt. Any truth to that?"

"Yeah, I was just there. The Spencers are losing their minds over it. Honestly? Ms. Sienna's barely scratched, but the whole family came running.

"Word is, her father, Mr. Hugh Spencer, was about to close a deal worth hundreds of billions of dollars, but he bailed the second he heard about her.

"And her husband? He's been tearing around nonstop, dragging in every specialist in town for a consultation. You can tell he's crazy about her."

"Wild how things play out. Another Spencer just got checked into OB-GYN. She had an abortion, but nobody showed up for her, not even her husband. It's really sad."

"That's terrible. Anyway, I'd better bounce. Duty calls."

The steady drip of water echoed through the quiet night, louder than it should have been. Natalie bit her lip hard, holding back tears.

Xavier hadn't shown up to the Spencers' family dinner that night. She'd heard he was away on a business trip, which meant the "husband" those nurses were talking about could only be Jason.

His love for Sienna knew no bounds.

Understanding how much Jason loved Sienna only twisted the knife deeper. It was as if the universe was mocking Natalie for believing her marriage had been happy.

For three years, she had given Jason everything. She pushed through her wheat allergy, forcing herself to eat it until her body stopped reacting, just to match his tastes.

When she worried his business drinking would wreck him, she perfected a hangover remedy tailored to his body. When he turned out to be fussy about coffee, she hunted down his favorite blend from halfway across the world.

She even planned their meals around his sensitive stomach, down to the last detail. But to Jason, none of it mattered.

Natalie decided she'd get out of Jason's and Sienna's way if that was what they wanted. At least then they wouldn't have to sneak around anymore.

Natalie had spent the night under observation at the hospital, and even by the next morning, when she was discharged, she still felt weak. And her blindness meant she had to take every step with extra care.

She made her way downstairs and stood at the curb, waving her arm over and over to catch a cab.

It must've been rush hour since barely any cabs were free. She waited 15 minutes, but not one stopped for her.

Natalie frowned slightly. Just as she was about to give up, a car pulled up in front of her. Then, the window rolled down, revealing a man with an unfairly handsome face.

Rowan Mattel's gaze was intense, his voice deep and smooth as he asked, "Where to, ma'am?"

Relieved, Natalie assumed she'd finally found an available cab. She felt her way forward before leaning toward the window. "Avon Villa."

Natalie heard the man step out of the car after she spoke. He opened the door for her and draped his own jacket over her shoulders.

She almost refused, but his voice left no room for protest. "You just left the hospital. I doubt you want to go back over a cold."

The night had turned frigid, and the morning air cut like a knife. Just a minute ago, she'd been standing there shaking, her whole body trembling from the cold.

Giving in, she murmured, "Thank you."

Inside the car, warmth spread through Natalie's stiff limbs, thawing the chill that had sunk into her bones.

Rowan checked the rearview mirror and noticed how pale she looked, her lips taking on a grayish tint. At the sight of her, his expression darkened as his eyebrows drew together slightly.

Natalie, of course, didn't notice his stare or how intently he watched her. To her, he was nothing more than a stranger who'd shown her kindness.

It never crossed her mind that the warmth she craved wouldn't come from family, or even a husband, but from someone whose name she didn't even know.

The ride had been smooth. Natalie stepped out of the car, handed over the fare, and said, "Keep the rest."

Rowan kept his eyes on her. Her face was calm and composed, but he could still catch a faint trace of sadness.

A beat passed before he took the money. "Thanks."

Natalie didn't linger. She turned and walked off without another word.

It wasn't until she disappeared inside the building that Rowan reached for his phone. His tone was cold as he ordered, "Cancel tonight's flight. I'll be staying in Grendale for the time being."

"Understood, Mr. Mattel."

…

Natalie was fresh out of the abortion procedure and running on no sleep. She looked completely wrecked.

Right then, one of the private investigators she'd reached out to finally got back to her.

They were willing to take her case, but it wouldn't come cheap. As they put it, going after Jason, a guy with money and connections, was playing with fire. One wrong move, and they could end up dead.

Natalie agreed without hesitation. The cost didn't matter. This was the only agency willing to take the job.

The car accident from three years ago and the hospital's part in covering up the medical malpractice needed explaining, and Jason and Sienna were the ones who had to do it.

After sending the first payment, Natalie headed to the bedroom to get some clean clothes. That was when she realized she was still wearing the driver's jacket, the one he'd kindly lent her earlier.

She'd been so rushed and distracted that she completely forgot to return it. If he remembered, she figured he'd probably come back for it. She draped the jacket over the foot of the bed and then headed into the bathroom.

After a quick shower, she sank into bed. She was too exhausted and drained.

About an hour later, the quiet hum of a car engine cutting off signaled that Jason was back.

He hadn't slept a wink the night before, having stayed at the hospital to keep watch. His eyes were bloodshot. After dropping Sienna at the Spencer residence, he'd hurried straight home.

What Natalie had done in front of everyone was out of line. The very least she could do was apologize to Sienna.

As soon as Jason stepped inside, Mary rushed over, handing him his slippers and taking his coat.

"Where's Mrs. Pereira?" he asked.

"She came back a short while ago. It seems she's already gone to bed," Mary answered matter-of-factly. "You know how it is—pregnant women need their rest."

Jason frowned. "Mrs. Pereira just got back?"

Mary paused.

Was he not aware?

When neither Natalie nor Jason had come home after the Spencers' dinner last night, Mary had figured they'd both stayed over and returned at different times.

But something in Jason's voice told Mary something was wrong. She knew better than to lie, so she nodded instead.

Suddenly, the air around Jason went cold. Without another word, he turned and strode upstairs. On the second floor, he pushed the bedroom door open.

Even though it was daytime, the curtains were drawn, leaving the room in shadow. He could barely make out Natalie curled up on the bed.

Jason yanked the curtains open, and sunlight flooded in, filling the room with light. Even in sleep, Natalie looked troubled, her forehead creased in a stubborn frown.

He stood by the bed, studying Natalie, who had shared his bed for three years. She wore a pure white silk nightgown, her long hair half-covering her face.

The neckline had slipped open just enough to reveal a sliver of pale, smooth skin. He knew exactly what lay beneath, how intoxicating the rest of her would look.

Jason had to admit that Natalie had a great figure. He didn't love her, but he sure liked her body.

His thoughts drifted back to their wedding night, when he'd taken her with nothing but vengeance on his mind. It was supposed to be punishment, payback for Sienna.

But then, he felt that faint resistance as he pushed inside her.

She'd been a virgin?

Something about that moment made his heart melt. And after that, he was hooked.

Jason eased onto the edge of the bed, his hand moving almost on its own to trace her delicate features. "Stay away from Sienna, and you'll remain Mrs. Pereira forever."

He'd planned to wait until she woke before saying anything else.

But as he turned to go, something made him pause. His eyes locked onto something that didn't belong—a man's jacket draped over the foot of the bed.