After dropping Vivian off at home, Nathan found himself driving aimlessly the gh the city streets,
The view outside his window stirred something restless in his chest golden
retlights bleeding through the darkness, endless traffic flowing like a
river of light. Every lit window in every building seemed to belong to someone else, not him.
His phone buzzed against the leather seat.
Nathan glanced at the screen. Tanner.
“Yeah?” he answered.
“Drinks? I’m at Pulse. You should come through–unless you’re too busy playing hero.”
Tanner Yonez had been Nathan’s ride–or–die since they were kids. Without hesitation, Nathan tapped his driver’s shoulder.
“Turn around.”
The Bentley glided toward Pulse, Manhattan’s hottest club, Nathan cut through the throbbing crowd until he reached Tanner’s VIP section.
The moment he stepped inside, his jaw tightened. The booth was packed–models, socialites, the usual crew. Tanner had apparently decided to throw
a party.
Nathan! Finally!” Tanner immediately slung an arm around his shoulders
Nathan sighed but didn’t pull away.
“Everyone, meet my boy Nathan Harrison–CEO of Harrison Group and the most eligible bachelor in New York! Show some love!”
Tanner was clearly wasted. The crowd erupted in cheers and flashing phones. Nathan was practically royalty in these circles, and everyone wanted a piece of him.
The noise was suffocating. Nathan raised his hand and nodded toward the exit
“Give us some space.”
Tanner just laughed and waved everyone off. “You heard the man. Out.”
Once they were alone, Tanner poured two glasses of top–shelf whiskey.
Nathan accepted his drink and took a measured sip.
“So what’s your deal lately?” Tanner asked, settling back into the plush seating
Nathan didn’t answer right away. He leaned into the shadows where his expression was unreadable.
After a long beat, he deflected. “What about you? You look like hell.”
Tanner let out a bitter laugh and rubbed his eyes. “Oh, you know, just the usual shit storm. Family business is exploding–tons of crap I gotta handle personally. And get this–Quincy actually dumped me. Called me a rotten cucumber and said she was done.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “I swear I don’t get women. Yeah, I’ve been meting with other people, but it’s all business! When my dad tells me to take the Zhou heiress shopping, what am I supposed to do–tell him to go screw himself?”
Nathan swirled his whiskey, only half listening.
“Maybe you gave her too many reasons to doubt you,” he said finally.
Tanner shot him a look. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you.”
13:52
Mr. Harrison. Wake Up Your Wife’s Gone
25.7%
Chapter 64
Hle topped off Nathan’s glass. “I should be more like the great Nathan Harriso right? Only had eyes for Amelia growing up, and now you’ve got Viviat wrapped around your finger.”
Nathan’s grip tightened on his glass. He waved away the refill.
Tanner was on a roll now.
“Did I hit a nerve?” He grinned. “Relax, I’m giving you props.”
“Seriously though, I’m jealous as hell.” Tanner leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “You’re killing it in business–took your family’s company from bleeding money to dominating the market.”
“And your love life? Amelia worshipped the ground you walked on. She wouldve taken a bullet for you.”
“Now you’ve got Vivian, and from what I see online, she’s like some kind of angel or whatever.”
“But me?” His voice dropped. “I’m drowning in family drama, and the woman Ive been with for years thinks I’m trash and won’t even hear me out.”
In the dim light, Tanner’s expression was unreadable.
“Sometimes I wonder what it’s like to be you–having everything handed to you on a silver platter.”
Nathan stared at the ice melting in his glass.
Silver platter? That wasn’t how it felt.
“Wait, hold up.” Tanner suddenly sat forward. “What’s the deal with you, Amelia, and Vivian anyway? I’ve been following the online drama, but I can’t figure out what game you’re playing.”
Nathan’s voice was flat. “Amelia and I are getting divorced. We’re in the mandatory waiting period.”
“What?” Tanner nearly dropped his drink. “Are you serious?”
“For Vivian?” He looked stunned.
Nathan took another sip. “Yeah.”
“Dude, I’m lost.” Tanner forgot all about his own problems. “I thought you and Amelia were solid. You seemed happy with her. And Vivian was literally dying–I figured you were just being a decent human being… Wait, Amelia actually agreed to this?”
Nathan kept his eyes on his drink. “She signed the papers.”
“This is insane!” Tanner jumped up, pacing the small space. “She’s really walking away? Just like that?”
“Remember that time some corporate princess threw herself at you? You ignored her, so she went to Amelia to rub it in her face. Amelia completely. destroyed her, then gave you the silent treatment for like a week.”
Nathan remembered. The whole thing had been a misunderstanding–he’d been exhausted and didn’t respond to the woman’s advances. She’d taken his silence as encouragement and decided to taunt Amelia about it.
He could still picture Amelia’s face that day, the way she’d slammed those contracts down and told the woman to get lost if she couldn’t conduct business professionally.
That night when he’d tried to hold her, she’d pushed him away. She’d been furious, all puffed up like an angry cat.
It had taken him days to calm her down.
When he finally did, she’d looked him straight in the eye and said, “Nathan, I can compromise on business, but not on us. Not ever.”
That same night, she’d whispered, “I love you more than anything in this world”
“But I’m selfish when it comes to you. I need to be the only one who matters.”
13:52
Mr. Harrison, Wake Up Your Wife’s Gone
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Chapter 64
“If you ever fall for someone else…”
Hier voice had been so steady, so sure
“I won’t stick around to watch.”
Nathan’s knuckles went white around his glass,
Then, slowly, he relaxed his grip.
“Come on, though,” Tanner continued, oblivious to Nathan’s inner turmoil. “She’s been following you around like a lost puppy since you were kids. She might throw a tantrum here and there, but after seven years? No way she’d actually leave.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
Seven years. She couldn’t leave him. She’d never leave him.
Lately, she’d even stopped fighting him on things, learned to be understanding
Nathan drained his glass in one go.
They drank until the early hours, but something cold had settled in Nathan’s chest–a fear he couldn’t quite name.
The next day, he pushed the feeling aside and went back to his routine.
Several quiet days passed.
Until his phone exploded with notifications, and he saw the headline trending at number one:
#Amelia Visconti Drops Off Kid at School–Child Calls Her “Mommy“#
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