"Joseph. Show them out."
After dismissing that pair, I turned back to Natalie. She'd set the ice pack aside. The swelling had receded slightly, but the defeat and distance in her eyes had deepened. She stared out at the thick darkness beyond the window.
I walked over but didn't sit. Just stood before her.
"Natalie," I began, my voice sharp in the quiet room, "we need to talk. Everything. All at once. No more avoiding it."
She finally looked at me. "Richard, I found out I was pregnant and planned to tell you right away. You'll never know how happy I was. But then I saw you at the hospital—you and Nick talking about how ordinary I was, how I was just good in bed, how you'd come back because of Olivia... You can't imagine what that felt like."
Damn. So Natalie was there that day? My memory instantly replayed the conversation with Nick. Christ, what kind of garbage had I said?
I'd only been irritated talking about it with Nick. Especially about Natalie.
What anyone else thought of my wife didn't matter. I was satisfied with Natalie. That was enough.
"And that bet with Nick. You and Olivia, did you..." Natalie didn't finish.
"No." I was definitive. "I never slept with Olivia. I just wanted Nick to shut up. We never even kissed. Natalie, I've been completely faithful to you—past, present, and future. I would never betray you."
"But you let Olivia provoke me over and over!" Natalie's voice rose. I recognized this emotion now—this was Natalie hurt and angry. "Do you know how awful the things they said were? Everyone thought marrying me was a mistake. You even gave her the necklace I loved. When I almost lost the baby, you were with Olivia. You're the world's biggest asshole. You made me feel worthless..."
Natalie's words tumbled out incoherently.
Damn. I'd never realized how deeply those things had wounded her.
I'd always assumed Natalie could handle it. After all, being Mrs. Winston meant learning to ignore outside noise. But I'd forgotten—Natalie shouldn't have had to endure any of it. I gaveher this position, so I should have protected her from all the trouble.
God, why did it take me this long to understand?
"You're not worthless," I heard my own voice, hoarse, my heart cramping painfully. "You're not my problem. You never were."
I dropped to my knees, forcing eye contact again. This time, I wouldn't allow any misunderstanding. Any reservation.
"Listen, Natalie. About our marriage—yes, at first, there were business considerations. But that was between your father and me. Not you and me. From the moment I saw you at that gala, I was drawn to you. After we married, you consumed all my attention, but I thought that was wrong. So I buried myself in work, kept my distance, because I believed nothing should matter more than work. I admit it—I was arrogant. And stupid."
These confessions were foreign and difficult, but necessary.
"As for Olivia, she's an assistant. An employee. Someone whose work I respected but who I never could or would feel anything for beyond that. Those supposed intimacies—either misunderstandings or... I admit, I was negligent about her overstepping boundaries because I never gave her a thought. I assumed professional was professional, personal was personal. But I forgot you needed to feel secure. That necklace you mentioned—Olivia's father asked me for it, so I gave it to him. Remember that bracelet you said you liked? I bought it for you. I thought that would make up for it, that you'd understand."
"And the control, all that suffocating protection..." I took a deep breath, deciding to tear open my deepest scar for her. "My mother, Elizabeth Winston—she was like you. Even more vibrant, more in love with beautiful clothes, lived brilliantly. She loved everything beautiful, colorful, and eye-catching. Then she became a target of my father's business rivals. They used herinterests to set a trap, and eventually... she died in a car accident. I was ten."
Natalie's eyes widened slightly.
"After that, I subconsciously equated standing out and uncontrolled beauty with danger. Seeing you in those bright dresses, glowing on stage, all those eyes on you... I was terrified. Terrified you'd become another Elizabeth. Terrified of losing you, Natalie. But I used the wrong methods. I hid you away, restricted you... I thought I was protecting you, never considering what it meant to you. I'm sorry, Natalie. For all my arrogance, my cold neglect, and that pathetic control born from fear. I'm sorry."
This was the first time in my life I'd bowed my head and apologized so completely to another person.
Natalie stared at me. Tears spilled down her face without warning. She opened her mouth, tried to speak, but choked.
I didn't rush her for a response. This was all too complicated. Maybe we both needed days to process and understand.
The next morning, I connected a video conference with all core executives from my study. Olivia was online too.
I didn't waste words. Got straight to it.
"Effective immediately, terminate all partnerships between the Group and Ms. Olivia Carter and her team. Begin transition immediately. Legal will handle contract termination and pay maximum penalty fees."
On screen, Olivia went white. "Richard? Why? What did I do wrong?"
