She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39 The Distraction

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Nathanial steps into our tense little circle with a tumbler of scotch in his hand, looking at Sonia with less than his usual concern.

Maybe it would be in my best interest to protect my little sister for now.

It’s never a bad thing being owed a favor. And I have a feeling she knows more than she’s letting on.

Winning her trust could mean gathering valuable information.

I pivot smoothly, placing my body directly between my golden-boy brother and Chase Warren’s wife.

Sonia is hyperventilating behind her hands.

Piper is staring at Natasha like she’s trying to peel the years back.

The tension in the air is thick enough to choke on.

I love it.

My mind works fast, linking the scattered pieces of this twisted family puzzle together.

Nathanial has been weeping over a dead sister for days.

Sonia just happens to share an uncanny, undeniable resemblance with a woman she clearly despises.

And right now, Sonia looks terrified.

Sonia faked her own sister’s death. I think. But I need proof.

A massive, destructive secret is sitting right in front of me.

I love watching things burn, but I prefer to control the flow of the gasoline.

Letting Nathanial blow this up in the middle of a crowded cocktail party is a complete waste of excellent leverage.

“Everything is perfectly fine, brother,” I tell Nathanial, flashing an easy, disarming smile.

I grab him firmly by the elbow.

“Though my phone just buzzed. Father is demanding to speak with you on a private line right now. You know how he gets when he’s kept waiting.”

Nathanial frowns, his attention snapping away from the women.

“He’s calling now?”

“Yes. Let’s find a quiet room upstairs.”

I steer him toward the grand staircase and he offers no resistance.

He’s so desperate for my father’s approval that he completely ignores the disaster unfolding right behind him.

Looking over my shoulder, I catch Sonia’s panicked gaze. I offer her a wicked wink before guiding my step- brother around the corner.

(Natasha)

Chapter a the Distraction

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Julian drags Nathaniel up the stairs, leaving behind a suffocating silence.

Sonia lowers her hands from her face. She’s shaking so violently her silver dress shimmers under the crystal chandeliers.

Her breathing is shallow, erratic, and bordering on a full panic attack.

Surely looking like me can’t be that upsetting.

Although in fairness, Julian called me more beautiful, and Sonia is ridiculously vain.

“Chase,” Sonia gasps, grabbing his arm with white-knuckled fingers.

“Take me home. Right now. I can’t breathe.”

Chase stares at her. The flicker of doubt from earlier vanishes, replaced by irritation and the immediate fear of a public medical emergency.

“Calm down,” Chase orders, keeping his voice low.

“I need to leave!” Sonia insists, her voice rising to a shrill pitch.

Several guests turn their heads, their polite conversations halting entirely. The quiet whispers start instantly.

Chase’s jaw tightens. He hates being the center of a scandal more than anything else in the world.

“Get your coat,” he snaps.

Without sparing me a single glance, Chase grips her elbow and marches her toward the front entrance.

The doors shut behind them, leaving a quiet, awkward void in the center of the party.

Eleanor steps into the space Chase just vacated.

For once, her perfect composure slips and a flash of genuine panic crosses her features as she registers the dead silence in the room.

“Oh dear,” Eleanor murmurs, forcing a tight smile for the closest onlookers.

“The poor girl. First trimester hormones can be so incredibly taxing on the nerves.”

Despite her desperate attempt at damage control, the surrounding guests are openly staring.

The quiet whispers spread like wildfire. The Warren family’s flawless public image is cracking right in front of

her.

“Eleanor,” I say calmly, pitching my voice to be heard over the murmurs.

“Lily should be waking up for her evening feed right about now. The guests haven’t formally met her yet. Why don’t I bring her down?”

Eleanor turns to look at me and the anger in her eyes instantly melts into gratitude.

She knows exactly what I’m offering.

A distraction.

A beautiful, undeniable Warren heir to dazzle the crowd and erase Sonia’s embarrassing exit from their memories.

Chapter 9 The Distraction

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