Todos os capítulos de She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife: Capítulo 91 - Capítulo 100

(Natasha)My mother makes tea at six in the morning because she doesn’t know what else to do.I sit at the kitchen island and watch her move through the townhouse, calm and efficient in a way that only makes her worry more obvious.She raised me to be stronger than this, and now she’s pretending not to see the state I’m in.My father is in the living room. I can hear him out there, awake, restless, trying not to intrude.When I arrived yesterday I completely fell apart.I spent the night railing against Chase, and sobbing my heart out at Lily’s absence.I know I look like hell today. My eyes are red and puffy. My skin dry from all the salty tears that tracked across my cheeks yesterday."Drink," my mother says, putting the mug in front of me.The tea is too hot and tastes of absolutely nothing.Outside the kitchen window, the morning is dull and grey.Across the city, my daughter is in her cot, and I’m here instead of where I belong. By her side.The distance between us is a hard, con

(Natasha)Chase moved out three days after I did.I found out in an unexpected phone call from Eleanor, who mentioned it with the careful neutrality of a woman who has opinions she’s decided not to share.I guess there’s a first time for everything.He's taken a furnished apartment near St. Jude's.Top of the line, obviously. It’s Chase and he’s used to luxury.He told Eleanor he needs to be closer to the hospital for Lily’s appointments.I didn’t ask, but Eleanor made a point of mentioning that Sonia is still at the estate.I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry when I heard that, so I just didn’t comment.My first supervised visit with Lily takes place at St Jude’s, since it’s a monitoring day.They’re worried about her blood pressure, which has apparently been slightly elevated all week, and tell me to stay there so they can repeat it later.Chase showed up around ten pm, and fortunately for him didn’t try to tell me my time was up.He slumped in a chair while I walked the corridor

(Natasha)I make an appointment.His assistant tries to offer me a slot next Thursday and I tell her I'll be there at eleven, which is when Chase has a gap in his schedule.I spent years working with him. I know he leaves himself breathing room before lunch meetings start.Time to gather his thoughts and make sure he’s at the top of his game.She makes a valiant effort to argue before putting me in the system.I suspect Chase knows the moment she does, but he doesn’t call to ask what this is about.I dress carefully.Not to impress. To armor.Dark trousers, a jacket that means business, heels I can walk fast in. My hair up.I put on the sapphire earrings he gave me at Christmas, which is either a statement or a provocation and I've decided I don't care which.I drove past the apartment twice this morning before deciding to come to his office.The office is neutral ground and the apartment is not, and I need neutral ground for this conversation.The assistant waves me through at five p

(Nathanial)The private investigator sits across from me, ruining the aesthetics of my hotel suite.I pay him three hundred dollars an hour to sit on a silk armchair smelling like an ashtray, mostly because he doesn’t ask stupid questions and he actually delivers.He slides a manila folder over the glass coffee table.“You were right to have me run it again,” Padilla says.“I’ll admit it, the paper trail fooled me the first time. I saw the municipal stamp, checked the county ledger, and called it a day. But when I went back and looked at the actual numbers...”“Just show me what you found.”Padilla flips the cover back.He pulls out a copy of the death certificate and puts it to the side.I already have one locked in my safe, and every line of it is burned into my retinas.He pulls out a second sheet of paper. A standard background check printout.“That certificate I gave you last month,” Padilla says.He taps a thick, calloused finger against the desk.“Looks completely legitimate. T

(Julian)I’m sitting in the back of my town car, watching the Los Angeles traffic crawl, when my phone buzzes against my leg.The screen lights up with a text from Sonia.Are you going to the charity gala tonight?I stare at the text and let out a short laugh.It’s tragic, really.I can practically smell the desperation radiating through the OLED screen.She doesn't care about the gala.She wants to know if Chase is going, and if there will be cameras.She wants an opening.I type back quickly.Wouldn't miss it. Heard Chase is presenting the foundation grant.I hit send and watched the read receipt pop up instantly.She’s hovering over her device like a vulture waiting for something to die.I tap the edge of my phone against my chin.The situation is entirely too static.If I want Chase off the board, so Natasha will look past him and be dazzled by me, I need to get them out of the rut they’re currently in.This needs a push. A little spark in the powder keg.I lean forward and tap th