Semua Bab She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife: Bab 191 - Bab 200

(Natasha)I tell Chase the whole sordid story in my kitchen.It takes forty minutes to lay the whole thing out properly.My mother, the affair, James walking in at nineteen, the deathbed, why I was left behind.I tell it like I’m presenting a financial report.Flat and factual.The way I tell things when I don't want to feel them while I'm telling them.Chase doesn't interrupt once.He poured coffee before I started.It's gone cold.He hasn't made another cup because moving would interrupt my train of thought and he can see how badly I need not to be derailed right now.He's keeping still in a way he isn't usually capable of.I manage to get the whole thing out without crying or breaking anything.Lily is upstairs asleep with the monitor on the counter between us.For a while her breathing on the monitor is the only sound in the room."What do you need? How can I help?" He asks eventually."I don't know."He nods. Doesn't push.I look at my hands.There's a crescent of polish missing

(Chase)Natasha leaves at four for the therapy appointment her doctor arranged for her.I’m glad she’s finally dealing with her PTSD and not continuing to pretend being kidnapped by Bauer was just another Thursday.Or that finding out her brother is her uncle just rolled off her back.It’s the first time she’s asked me to take care of Lily when she has something to do and it’s not Lily’s allocated days with me.It’s kind of a big deal, whether she wants to admit it or not."Her bottle's in the fridge. She had a nap at two. Sorry, you know her as well as I do."The glowiest of praise.I’m careful not to let it go to my head."Don’t be sorry, and don’t be nervous. It’s going to be good for you to talk to someone.""I guess."She stops in the doorway with her hand on the knob."Chase.""Yeah.""Don't burn down my house."I take that. I'd take more if she handed it to me.Lily is in the bouncer in the corner of the kitchen, watching me with the look she gets when she's deciding whether to

(Natasha)Nathanial has been at my townhouse every day this week.Not in a casual brother way.In a "I am here to make sure my sister doesn't get kidnapped twice" way.He doesn't say it.He doesn't have to.Monday he showed up at six with takeout and a face like it was absolutely normal to check the locks on the way in.He did it twice. I watched him.Tuesday he came at five, carrying a state of the art security camera system that I was quite impressed he managed to install himself.Wednesday he was already in the kitchen when I got home, sitting at the island with Lily on his knee.He was going through quotes from security companies.Not just to install a brand new alarm system and some panic buttons.Patrol cars that drive by every hour, and optional night guard from seven pm to seven am daily.I can only picture Chase’s expression if I tell him some big, burly man will be spending every night with me.Nathanial had the quotes open on his laptop, doing a spreadsheet with side-by-sid

(Natasha)Brenda calls me at half past nine on Wednesday morning and says Elias Warren would like me to come to his house this afternoon.Three o'clock.Just me."Could I ask what this is about?""I’m afraid he didn’t share that information with me."Poor Brenda. I wonder what it would be like to work so closely with Elias.I love him, but I’d throttle him before the first day is out."Did he say I had to come?""He said he hoped you would. I’m sure you know what that means."I sure do.I'm at his door at two fifty-five.The housekeeper lets me in.Chase and I weren’t regular visitors, but it’s not the first time I’ve been here either.Elias left the Warren Estate to Eleanor and his son after his wife died and moved to this considerably smaller mansion.She offers me a small, careful smile and points me toward the study at the end of a hallway I've never been down.He's already there.In a chair by the window, half a sandwich on a plate beside him. He looks up when I come in."Natasha

(Chase)I wake at six.For a second I don't know where I am.Then I remember.Spare room at Natasha's.The extra blanket she gave me last night pulled up to my chest the way I left it.The monitor on the dresser shows Lily on her back, awake.Hands in the air, batting at nothing.She's been up about a minute. Hasn't started fussing yet. That'll come in three.I lie still and listen for Natasha moving.Nothing.I count to thirty.Still nothing.I get up. In last night's clothes minus the jacket.I walk out in my socks. Don't want to wake her if she's actually asleep.Lily sees me come in and does the surprised face she does for everyone these mornings.Wide eyes, open mouth, full-body wriggle.Then she remembers she's annoyed about something and gives me the look that means, food, sir."Morning."I lift her out.She’s heavier this week than last.She’s heavier every week than last.It’s equal measures wonderful and frightening.Diaper change first which she barely tolerates, then we he