She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52 The Performance

(Sonia)

Timing is everything.

I learned that watching my mother.

She always knew exactly when to cry, exactly when to go quiet, exactly when to let a single tear fall rather than a flood.

Restraint at the right moment is more powerful than any amount of noise.

I very nearly decided to put everything off when hateful old Elias told me Chase left.

He said Chase had a work emergency, but his nasty grin said something else entirely.

Eleanor gave him a terrible glare, but she may as well have aimed it at the wall for all he cared.

It would have been far better to do this in front of Chase, but everything’s been arranged, and the danger of discovery becomes greater with every passing minute.

I wait until after dessert.

The sitting room has almost the right number of people.

Eleanor, my stepfather, Julian, Nathanial, Elias. And a handful of staff who will talk.

Witnesses matter. Especially since Chase isn’t here to experience my suffering firsthand.

And a performance with no audience is just a woman standing alone in a room.

I set my water glass down on the side table and press both hands to my stomach, letting my face do the work.

“I don’t feel well,” I say, to no one in particular.

Eleanor looks up first.

She always pays attention when I speak, which is one of the things I have always appreciated about her.

I take one step toward the door and let my knees buckle.

The collapse is good. I wish someone was filming this.

Not a dramatic crash, those look staged.

Just a slow, graceful fold, one hand catching the armrest on the way down, enough to prevent injury, not enough to prevent the gasp that goes around the room.

Eleanor reaches me first.

Dr. Evans arrives within twenty minutes of being called.

I sent him the address three hours ago.

He examines me in the guest room with Eleanor hovering at the foot of the bed.

Her face is drawn with worry I didn’t entirely expect but am very pleased to see.

He speaks in the low, grave register of a man delivering bad news.

114

The word miscarriage lands in the room like a stone.

+15 Bonus

Eleanor makes a sound I’ve never heard from her before, and for a few seconds I feel terrible about my deception.

But it can’t be helped. It’s all Natasha’s fault.

Eleanor sits on the edge of the bed and takes my hand in both of hers.

“I’m so terribly sorry my dear. I can’t imagine what you must be going through.”

The warmth in her voice is genuine and unconditional and I drink every drop of it.

This is what I wanted. This exact thing. Her full, undivided, guilt-stricken attention.

I cry beautifully.

I’ve always been very good at that. None of the redness and swelling that plagues less fortunate women.

My eyes simply fill and overflow and I press my lips together bravely and let Eleanor hold my hand.

My stepfather appears in the doorway, looks at the scene, and withdraws quietly.

A man who knows when a room belongs to women.

He better tell my mother about the heartbreak I’m going through. I hope she feels guilty for not being here.

Dr. Evans leaves a prescription for something I won’t need to fill and squeezes my hand on his way out, murmuring platitudes all the way.

His eyes don’t meet mine.

I can see how much he hates seeing everyone sad and crying.

It’s fine, I won’t need him anymore after tonight.

Somewhere around the second hour, Eleanor steps out to organise tea and I reach for my phone.

Twelve missed calls to Chase. Now thirteen.

That’s not including the calls I know Eleanor has made herself.

I dial again.

Voicemail.

I stare at the ceiling of the guest room, hands resting on the silicone prosthetic.

Dr. Evans said the bump wouldn’t just immediately disappear, I should keep wearing it for at least a week.

At least I know Eleanor won’t make any attempt to touch it now.

The problem of my fake pregnancy is solved. Neatly and permanently.

The sympathetic fussing is working exactly as Julian predicted.

Chase is going to feel just terrible when he finds out. Maybe it’s good he’s not here.

Eleanor returns with tea and a cashmere blanket that she tucks around my legs with her own hands.

I’ve only ever seen Eleanor be this solicitous with that little brat, Lily.

+15 Bonus

I accept all of it with trembling gratitude.

the chair across from me is empty.

The chair where Chase should be sitting, watching me with devastated eyes, is empty.

He doesn’t call.

The house quiets gradually.

Guests leave, voices drop, footsteps fade down corridors.

Nathanial comes to say a rather drunken goodbye.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify