She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 199

(Chase)

The wine I bring is a peace offering.

I put it on the kitchen island like I'm handing in a permission slip.

Don't offer to open it.

Don't ask for a glass.

Just set it down and leave my hand on it for a second longer than necessary.

"Lily asleep?"

"She went down an hour ago. What brings you here after her bedtime?"

Should have known I’d be busted immediately.

That’s what happens when you fall in love with a smart woman.

I came over at ten on a Tuesday night and I don't have Lily until Friday.

There's only one reason I'm here and we both know what it is.

I sit on the stool across from her.

"You heard," she says.

"My grandfather called me Friday. I’ve known for a while."

"And? Are you upset?"

I grin.

"I’m upset that he still treats me like I’m twelve years old. I’m glad he gave you the shares. Even if I had been upset, he made it crystal clear I had no vote in the matter. Then he made me pay for his lunch as per usual, after lambasting the waiter about the inadequate soup selection. I hate meeting him at restaurants."

She does a very poor job of looking sympathetic.

“Okay. So if that’s not what’s bothering you, why are you here?”

I look at my hands. Then at her.

"I want to talk about Sonia."

Her eyebrows shoot all the way to her hairline, but she doesn't say anything.

Waits me out.

I take a breath.

"I never loved her, Natasha. Not once. Not in a single moment of any of it."

She lets it sit in the kitchen for a beat.

"Chase. That makes it worse."

I blink. I didn't see that coming. "What?"

"You heard me."

"I... Natasha. I’m trying to give you a truth that’s been killing me. I thought you would-"

"What? Be relieved?"

"Well. Yes. She didn’t mean anything to me. She was a distraction and I was an idiot, but she was never important."

"You want me to be relieved that you ruined a year of my life for nothing?"

Her words pull me up short.

"If you'd loved her," she says, "Even a little, even for a week, there'd be a reason. People do stupid things for love. People burn down their lives for love.”

She looks at me intently.

“I could have hated you for loving her and at least the equation would have made sense. There would have been a because."

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