Chapter 91
Nathan almost couldn’t help himself–he wanted to tell Mila who he really was. But he managed to hold
back.
He’d come here today to sort things out with Amelia about the whole Louie situation.
The last thing he needed was more complications.
Watching Mila’s big eyes dart around nervously, clearly planning her escape, Nathan quickly said, “Hey, don’t be scared. I’m not some creepy guy or anything.”
But Mila was obviously done with this conversation.
“I used to have a little girl…” Nathan’s voice trailed off as the memory hit him again–Amelia covered in blood, sobbing in his arms.
“But I lost her. When I see you, it just… reminds me of her.”
“I’m sorry I freaked you out,” he said quietly. “Asking you to draw me–that was because you reminded
me of her too.”
Maybe she picked up on something real in his voice, because Mila actually looked at him properly for the first time. She didn’t bolt.
Instead, she reached over and gently patted his hand.
Nathan had to smile. Here was this tiny hand patting his much larger one, so soft and gentle.
And somehow, it actually helped.
Nathan Harrison, getting comfort from a five–year–old
Well… he wasn’t complaining.
“But I still can’t draw you,” Mila said, just as he was starting to feel better. “I have principles, you know.”
Principles? At her age?
This kid was something else..
19:34 O
Mr. Harrison, Wake Up Your Wife’s Gone
34.6%
Chapter 91
“Did she teach you that too?” Nathan couldn’t resist asking.
Mila set her drawing on the table and started coloring with careful precision.
“Mommy teaches me lots of stuff,” she said matter–of–factly.
“But you’ve only known her for what, a few weeks?” Nathan pressed.
Without really thinking about it, Mila replied, “Yeah, but mommy’s nice to everyone. Not just me–Uncle Louie, Aunt Harper, everybody.”
“Though…” Mila’s whole face lit up, “she’s extra nice to family. Like how she treats me. Even though I can’t actually call her ‘mommy‘ out loud yet, she gets it She’s taking me to doctors, buying me stuff, letting me go to school.”
Her expression suddenly clouded. “The only person she’s not nice to is herself.”
“She’s still got wounds that haven’t healed properly.”
“But I blow on them to make them better.”
“Mommy says when I blow on them, they don’t hurt anymore.”
Amelia’s wounds…
Nathan’s mind flashed back to seeing her at the hospital–the gauze on her head, the way she’d looked after falling down those stairs. He still didn’t know how badly she’d been hurt.
Even at Moonlight Manor, he hadn’t gotten a real look at her injuries.
A gentle breeze stirred as Nathan watched Mila color her drawing with intense focus.
For such a little kid, her concentration was impressive.
This was… nice, actually. Peaceful.
Time seemed to slow down, and eventually Nathan spetted Amelia walking toward the preschool.
Instinctively, he stepped back into the shadows,
The moment Amelia entered the preschool grounds, she saw Mila sitting on the stone steps with her drawing.
19:34
Mr. Harrison, Wake Up Your Wife’s Gone
34.7%
Chapter 91
Just the sight of her made Amelia smile.
She hurried over, glanced at the artwork, but didn’t interrupt.
Mila was the one who noticed her first.
“Aunt Amelia!” Mila practically glowed as she threw herself into Amelia’s arms.
Amelia caught her easily.
“Look, I made a picture!” Mila thrust her freshly colored drawing at Amelia, eyes bright with anticipation. “Do you like it?”
Amelia took the drawing and gushed, “Are you kidding? This is amazing! You’re such a good artist!”
She planted a kiss on Mila’s cheek, making the little girl giggle.
Amelia carefully rolled up the drawing and tucked it away safely, then settled Mila on her lap as they sat on the steps. She checked the child’s hands and forehead for temperature.
She pulled out wet wipes to clean Mila’s face and hands, then uncapped her thermos and poured warm
water into a cup.
So careful, so thorough.
“Thanks, Aunt Amelia.” Mila drank the water obediently and handed back the cup.
Amelia took it. “You don’t have to thank me, sweetie. Want some more?”
Mila nodded, so Amelia poured another cup.
While Mila drank, Amelia retied her slightly loose pigtails and double–knotted her shoelaces, asking about her day at preschool.
Mila chattered away about everything that had happened, both of them looking completely content.
Nathan stood watching from the sidelines.
If they’d had a child together, would she have picked up their kid like this?
Maybe they would have come together–both of them.
Was he getting old? Since when did he fantasize about domestic life?
“…Oh yeah, Aunt Amelia, this weird guy earlier said he wanted to buy me ice cream.”
Mila was telling Amelia.
Amelia’s brow furrowed. Who?
Mila looked around, then pointed. “Over there.”
Amelia followed her gaze and locked eyes with Nathan!
She slowly stood up.
Nathan didn’t bother hiding anymore. He walked over looking down at her.
“We need to talk,” he said simply.
Amelia glanced at Mila, who was watching them both with obvious curiosity.
“Mila has a doctor’s appointment today,” Amelia said. The message was clear: not happening.
“I’ll come with you.” Nathan didn’t give her room to argue. “Look, Amelia, I don’t think you want me showing up here every day.”
Amelia’s lips pressed into a thin line.
She looked at Mila again, then finally nodded.
He was right. She couldn’t deal with him haunting the preschool.
This left her no choice.
Mila kept staring at them both, clearly fascinated.
But Amelia had no idea how to explain any of this to her.
She definitely didn’t want Mila calling Nathan “daddy.”
Even though technically, legally, they were still married.
Not for much longer, though.
So Amelia said nothing, just scooped up Mila and slid into the back seat of the Maybach.
19:34
Mr. Harrison, Wake Up Your Wife’s Gone
34.8%
Chapter 91
Scenery blurred past the windows.
The car glided smoothly toward New York General Hospital.
Dead silence filled the interior.
The kind of silence that made you want to scream.
Nathan kept glancing at Amelia in the rearview mirror.
When had they become strangers?
She used to light up when she saw him. Now…
He thought about that empty penthouse, their abandoned home.
“When did you move out of the villa?” he asked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Amelia didn’t even look at him.
“It’s not your business,” she said flatly.
Her dismissiveness irritated him, but he kept his cool.
“Where are you living now?” he tried again.
Still no eye contact. She just whispered something soothing to Mila.
After what felt like forever, she finally said, “We’ll talk about it later. Hospital first.”
“Amelia!” Nathan’s patience snapped.
“WAAAAH!”
Mila burst into tears, big fat drops streaming down her face.
“Aunt Amelia, he’s scary!”
Amelia had had enough.
“Stop the car,” she said, ice in her voice.
19:34 C
M: Harrison Wake Up Your Wife’s Gone
34.9%
Chap
