An Affair With The Ceo (Natasha and Jared) novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17 Playing Favorites

Chapter 17 Playing Favorites

Natasha narrowed her eyes. “What exactly did you say that you shouldn’t have?”

Percy chose his words carefully. “I really drank too much last night. If I said anyone’s name while I was drunk, just ignore it I was just talking nonsense.”

Natasha sneered inwardly, ‘Was he really just talking nonsense, or was he letting the truth slip while drunk?’

She replied calmly, “I know.”

Percy studied her expression carefully.

There really wasn’t any sign of anger.

‘Maybe I’m just being paranoid, he thought. ‘Maybe I didn’t actually say anything out of line last night?’

“That’s good.” Percy finally let out a sigh of relief.

Natasha really didn’t want to bother with him anymore.

But hearing him mention that tomorrow was the weekend, she turned to him and said, “I’m heading to Whittier Manor tomorrow to see my mom. Are you coming with me?”

Ever since she married Percy a year ago, he’d gone with her to Whittier Manor every single weekend without fail.

Natasha had thought this weekend would be no different.

But to her surprise, Percy paused, his gaze hardening. “I have to overtime tomorrow.”

“Overtime?” Natasha’s brows furrowed in surprise.

Ever since they got married, visiting Whittier Manor every weekend had become their tradition-he’d never once mentioned having to overtime before.

‘Why this weekend of all times?’ she thought, a trace of suspicion flickering in her mind.

“Didn’t you just say you’d go anywhere with me tomorrow, no matter what I wanted to eat?” she pressed, unable to hide her frustration.

Percy’s voice snapped cold, not a hint of warmth left. “I forgot.”

Hé slipped right back into that old, distant persona.

Without another word, he strode off to his room, leaving Natasha completely ignored.

It was like a switch had flipped-he was a whole different person from just a minute ago.

Natasha instinctively frowned.

‘If I’m right, Percy only started acting all sweet and attentive because he was worried I’d find out about him and Joelle,’ she thought.

‘And now that he thinks I’m not suspicious anymore, he’s gone right back to his old self.’

Not only that, but as far as she knew, Joelle and Roxanne were off in Tamont this weekend-they wouldn’t even be at Whittier Manor.

‘So that’s why Percy doesn’t want to go back to Whittier Manor with me tomorrow?

‘So it’s clear now. Percy never went back to Whittier Manor for me. He was just using those weekends as an excuse to see Joelle, Natasha thought.

A heavyweight was crushing her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Natasha bit back her tears, holding herself together with everything she had.

She rushed to her room, grabbed her meds, and swallowed them in a panic, terrified her illness would flare up again.

*****

The next day, for the first time, Percy didn’t go with her to Whittier Manor.

But her mother, Sandra, didn’t even bat an eye.

She didn’t even ask about it.

When Sandra saw Natasha, she was all about Joelle’s wedding, going on and on about it nonstop.

“Your sister’s getting married next month. What do you think we should get her for a wedding gift?” she asked. Natasha’s smile faltered for a split second.

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Chapter 17 Playing Favorites

When she got married, Roxanne hadn’t even considered giving her a wedding gift.

‘But now that Joelle’s getting married, Mom’s acting like it’s the most important thing in the world?’ Natasha thought, a wave of bitterness washing over her.

Sandra popped open her jewelry box and sighed, “I barely have any decent jewelry to give. Maybe this emerald bracelet?”

Natasha’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait, isn’t that the emerald bracelet Grandma left you?”

Having always been the mistress in the Whittier family, Sandra was never really favored or respected.

If she hadn’t given birth to Collin, Bernard would never have taken her in or given her any standing in the family.

Even so, all these years, Sandra had to walk on eggshells around Roxanne, never dared to fight for anything always flattering her, and acting as if Joelle were her own child.

Roxanne was always spending lavishly, never stingy when it came to buying jewelry for herself and Joelle

Meanwhile, Natasha and Sandra never had a single decent piece of jewelry to wear.

The emerald bracelet was a keepsake from Natasha’s grandma-Sandra cherished it so much, she hardly ever wore it herself.

‘She’s actually thinking of giving it to Joelle?’ Natasha thought, stunned and a little bitter.

“Mom, that bracelet is the only thing you have left from Grandma. You should really keep it for yourself. Joelle already has plenty of jewelry,” Natasha said softly, hoping her mom would reconsider.

Sandra’s face fell. “What are you talking about? Just because Joelle doesn’t need it, does that mean we shouldn’t give her anything? A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event for a woman.

“If she doesn’t have enough proper wedding gifts, the Milford family might look down on her. Especially since the Milford family is one of the richest families around.”

Natasha’s heart clenched painfully.

She forced an awkward, bitter smile and mumbled, “But when I got married, I didn’t get any proper wedding gifts either.”

Honestly, she didn’t have a single decent item to her name.

Her dad and Roxanne didn’t bother, and even Sandra hadn’t prepared a thing for her.

She walked into her marriage with Percy practically empty-handed.

Because of that, the Grosso family-and especially her mother-in-law-were always griping, saying Percy totally got ripped off marrying the Whittier family’s overlooked youngest daughter.

“How could you possibly compare yourself to Joelle?” Sandra said coldly, her brows furrowing. “Joelle is the legitimate daughter of the Whittier family, your father and Roxanne’s child.

“She’s marrying into the Milfords, one of the most powerful families around. Once she’s married, she’ll be Mrs. Milford.”

She gave Natasha a scornful glance. “And you? You married Percy, who’s just the Grosso family’s illegitimate son. The Grosso family can’t even hold a candle to the Milfords.

“If you want to blame someone, blame the fact that you’re the daughter of a mistress. You were born to be second-rate. You and Joelle are on completely different levels.”

It felt as if something had yanked painfully at Natasha’s heart.

All her life, she’d never blamed Joelle for being more loved, for having better treatment than her.

What truly broke her was that, while it was expected for her dad and Roxanne to favor Joelle, even her own mother… gave Joelle her unconditional love.

Her mom paid attention to every single detail of Joelle’s life, no matter how trivial.

Even when Joelle and Roxanne didn’t care or show any gratitude, Sandra would still go out of her way, humbling herself just to win their favor.

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