Wife by Day, Boss by Night

“Just messing around when I chose it. That's all Brian responded with casual indifference.

“Wasting five years at this dump of a school, Brian? What the hell are you thinking?”

“Full credits lead to early graduation. Besides, it's not up to you to label it a dump. Mind your own business.” Brian's voice was chilly, and as he looked up to see Natalie watching them from the second floor, he dropped the argument and headed upstairs.

Kenneth had never lost his temper in front of Natalie, knowing that her autism couldn’t handle the shock or agitation. That outburst was the first and last time Kenneth had ever got angry to Natalie's face, and since then, he never interfered in Brian’s affairs again.

All Natalie knew was that Brian was also angry, and when he returned to his room, she took her test papers and went to him. Audrey said that Brian would gradually accept them if she went to Brian and tried to comfort him when he was upset.

“Brian, can you help me with the last question?” She knocked on Brian's door and asked tentatively.

Brian looked at her with a face of stone and said impatiently, “Come in.”

Natalie walked over to Brian's desk, holding her test papers. Since there was only one chair in the room, she stood by the desk, not daring to sit.

“What are you standing there for? You look like someone's bullied you.” He walked behind her and spoke softly.

Brian had just showered, carrying a faint scent of peppermint, which was sharp and unexpectedly pleasant.

Natalie turned to glance at him and then hesitantly perched on the edge of his desk. Without a word, Brian lifted her and pushed the chair forward.

Comfortably seated, Natalie turned to ask where Brian would sit, only to find him already encircling her from behind, guiding her pencil-holding hand to the mistake on the paper.

That was the first time Natalie realized how attractive a person’s nose could be.

She never saw any more handsome nose than Brian's, straight but not overly so, and even his breath smelled nice.

Back then, she was too young to understand what it meant to like someone. She just knew that Brian was perfect in her heart. If he stayed away from school for too long, she'd miss him and long to see him.

Natalie remembered staying overnight with the Morales family, or else she wouldn't recall the sycamore-lined streets and the scented candle in their home so vividly.

She recalled the thunder rumbling outside and her frantic scramble into bed where Brian lay sleeping, her anxiety subsiding with him by her side.

12

1252

She remembered him leaning down to kiss her, whispering, “Hush, little dummy, it's okay now,”

From then on, her memories of Brian and the Morales family came with that subtle hint of scented candle.

Because of him, she couldn’t wait for time to pass more quickly, to grow up faster.

“Great—grandad’s back!” Nate suddenly cheered in her arms.

Natalie looked up to see Herbert returning, probably after Inspecting the morning drills, and promptly

) 3

closed Nate's book, speaking softly,

« : ”

Go have breakfast with Grandad.

After setting Nate down, she went upstairs discreetly to pack her stuff, planning to head to the film set.

She knew Herbert didn't like her.

When Natalie came back downstairs, packed and ready, Herbert was already sitting in the dining room, feeding Nate breakfast.

“Herbert,” she called him gently, “I'm off to the set.”

Herbert glanced up, giving her a brief

. . ir “

look before saying indifferently, “Eat

5 5 ) 3 ci)

something. Brian's not here, and it's aContent bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

: »

waste to let all this food go cold.”