Wife by Day, Boss by Night by Thalia Quillspeak

Chapter 151
Brian was both frantic and furious as he pinned Natalle down, Ignoring her struggles. With a swift motion, he lifted the back of
her shirt to Inspect her skin.
A large bruise marred her lower back, the skin swollen and hot to the touch. Brian’s fingers gently grazed the area, his concern
evident despite his gruff exterior.
“When did you hurt your back?” he asked, his voice deep with concern as he stared at the injury.
Natalie recalled bumping her back a couple of days ago. It was the night Brian had left her on the couch, and she suspected
she’d landed on one of Nate’s toys, hitting her spine. She bit her lip and remained silent.
“Talk to me,” Brian urged, furrowing his brow.
To Natalie, it seemed ironic that Brian, who often treated her as an outlet for his anger, was now showing concern for her well–
being.
“What does it matter to you?” she asked softly, despite the pain.
At her words, an unspoken outburst seemed to catch in his throat.
“If it were Gavin taking you to the hospital right now, would you speak to him like that?” Brian pressed, his voice low and strained.
“Maybe he...” Natalie began to retort without thinking, but she stopped herself short, realizing that to continue might sound like
jealousy, a strange notion indeed.

Better to say nothing at all. Besides, speaking up would only upset him further, and she had learned her lesson. Silence was her
best defense.
“What about Gavin?” Brian shot back through clenched teeth.
Natalie, feeling utterly miserable, had no desire to argue and waste her energy. She closed her mouth and said nothing more.
She was unwell. Nausea and fainting could mean she was pregnant. Brian repeated this to himself over and over, trying to quell
his anger.
After a moment, he removed both their jackets, soiled with vomit, and tossed them aside.
Natalie, unsure of his intentions, struggled weakly but ultimately surrendered to his strength, letting him have his way.
Brian shifted Natalie onto his lap and pulled out some wet wipes. His brow creased, and he cleaned her face and mouth with
more force than necessary.
The roughness of his touch made Natalie wince, and she pushed his hand away.
They locked eyes for a few seconds before Brian grabbed a bottle of water and a paper cup,
unscrewed the cap, and held it to her lips. “Open up!” he commanded.
“I can do it myself,” Natalie murmured.
Brian’s patience was hanging by a thread. His eyes narrowed slightly as he retorted, “If you want me to give you mouth–to–
mouth, just say so.”

The thought was repulsive. Natalie had just been sick, after all. But seeing him lean closer, she obediently opened her mouth,
rinsed, and spat into the cup.
After several rinses, the bitter taste of coffee mixed with stomach acid faded, and she stopped.
At the sight of her compliance, Brian softened his expression slightly. After a pause, he asked in a serious tone, “Have you had
your period this month?”
Natalie paused, realizing what he was implying. He thought she was carrying his child?
“I took the morning–after pill,” she said after a few seconds, avoiding his gaze and looking out the window. Her voice was low
and distant.
After a severe bleeding incident at the hospital, she had asked Rosie to get her the emergency contraceptive. It had been her
fertile window. There was no way she would risk getting pregnant with Brian’s child again.
She wouldn’t give anyone the chance to say that she was using a child to manipulate Brian, to accuse her of shamelessness or
ulterior motives.