All Chapters of The Billionaire’s Bargain: Chapter 51 - Chapter 58

Natalie's POVThe kitchen din enveloped me: clinking dishes, and hum of dining-room voices; this is just background noise that I almost always hear. I finally looked up and stopped to revise this menu since new seasonal dishes needed my attention. There is only one rhythm here in the restaurant that continues day in, and day out that assures me that all is right with the world in its place.Today, however, was stretched to a breaking point. Of late, Brandon had gone standoffish: not catching glances, short conversations, the way he came home late and blamed it on work. I really did want to believe him, but something really did not feel right, and I couldn't get it off my mind.It was that knock on my door that pulled me out of this reverie. I didn't get a word said, let alone get words formed, before Hailey walked into my office, white-faced, shaking her hand, holding her phone out in front of her like some sort of explosive."Natalie, you have got to see this," she said, her voice ju

Natalie's P.O.V.I barely felt the weight of the office door closing behind me as I stepped out, my vision blurred by the tears that kept falling though it tore my heart into pieces. It felt just like the walls of Brandon's office closed in on me and suffocated me, and now that I was outside, I couldn't breathe. Maybe my legs were lead, and little I did but walk, step after step, without an end at all in or direction toward the sight.How blind can I be? How come I let it seep inside my head that things between us were getting better? The last weeks had been speckled with instances of warmth and tenderness-quiet moments indeed, but which made me feel secure and sure that finally, we were on firmer ground. But all that was one big lie.Snicker, grim, escaped; images flashed of soft stroking, the way Brandon had held me up through the night, the look in those eyes, which I had mistaken for love. I had let my defenses down, and given him my trust. Now it seemed I was paying the price for

Natalie's POV"Are you sure about this, Nat?" Hailey asked as she extended a glass of water in my direction, her eyes deep with concern. I knew that furrow in her brow and pursing of her lips meant she'd bitten her tongue not to ask a thousand questions.I nodded, swallowing as my throat welled up with tears that threatened to fall. "I didn't have a choice, Hail. I just couldn't stay there anymore."Hailey plopped herself beside me on the couch and reached across to set a hand on my arm, turning toward me. "And you just packed up and left just like that?"Just like that," I said-my voice as flat as his. "What was I supposed to do? He's going to have a baby with Arlys and didn't even have the balls to come to me. I had to find out just like everybody else did-on the damn internet."Anger twisted all of the features on Hailey's face. "That snake knew it, I knew something was off about her, but I didn't fathom it, didn't think she would go this far."By this time, I was whispering now; s

Brandon's POVStill, I stood there, my phone still clutched in my hand, my chest furiously heaving up and down, my heart seething with anger. Arlys had driven me to the limit, and now she threatened me once more. The words still rang in my head, "This is just the beginning."What more was she to do?I had underestimated her, knowing no better than to think she'd keep in her bounds. Now I knew just what kind of danger she was. It was finally time for me to take matters into my own hands and bring this to an end once and for all. But Natalie-just the mere thought of her tear-stained face, how she had left with so much pain in her eyes-scared me on a whole other level.Gotta get outta here, needed some fresh air, you know? Just would not shake, would not.Quiet, it was a house where every room was just a little colder without Natalie inside. I went up the hall and passed her room, now so bare. My hand fell onto the cold doorknob, and I turned it slowly before stepping inside. Just a mome