The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband – Episode 48
Natalie returned to B.M. Enterprises on Monday under her own terms. Walking through the lobby as the founder’s wife attracted more attention than her first day as a disputed hire, but she refused to lower her eyes. She informed human resources that she would remain through the end of the quarter, report outside Daniel’s direct chain, and accept no assignments involving Klein or Quinn family interests.
The new manager agreed. Sebastian had already signed a conflict-of-interest policy removing himself from decisions about her salary, evaluations, and promotion. The document made his restraint official rather than dependent on promises.
Colleagues treated her with awkward curiosity. Some became overly respectful after learning she was the founder’s wife; others assumed every success had been purchased. Invitations arrived from people who had ignored her, while anonymous comments questioned whether the distributor contract was real. Natalie documented harassment, declined flattery, and answered both reactions through work.
She presented the distributor contract to the implementation team and defended each term without referring to Sebastian. When an analyst challenged the pricing model, Natalie produced the client’s volume projections and invited an independent audit. By the meeting’s end, questions focused on logistics rather than her marriage. Competence could not silence gossip immediately, but it gave serious people something better to discuss.
Daniel found her afterward. “He’s trying very hard not to ask me how you are.”
“And you’re trying very hard to tell me anyway.”
Daniel smiled. He apologized for participating in the deception and admitted loyalty to Sebastian had made him treat Natalie’s right to know as secondary. She accepted the apology without absolving him instantly.
He gave her one final piece not included in the disclosure: before the identity reveal, Sebastian had planned to offer Natalie ownership of the penthouse and arrange a wedding chosen entirely by her. The plan included her mother’s preferred flowers, Sarah as a witness, and a scholarship in Natalie’s name. It was sentimental, extravagant, and still another decision made in advance. Even his dream of giving her freedom had been designed without asking what freedom looked like to her.
“He’s learning,” Daniel said. “Slowly.”
That evening, Natalie visited the penthouse while Sebastian was at Klein Enterprises. She entered with her old key and found no staff, gifts, or staged apology. The home remained exactly as she left it, except her wedding ring sat inside a closed box.
Sebastian arrived and stopped in the foyer. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“That’s the point.” She wanted to see how he behaved without time to prepare the correct version of himself.
They cooked dinner together, returning awkwardly to habits formed before either admitted the marriage was real. Sebastian did not summon staff when he burned the sauce; he opened a jar from the pantry and admitted defeat. The ordinary failure made Natalie smile before she could stop herself. He ruined the second attempt because he was answering her questions about Stephanie.
He described his mother as stubborn, brilliant, and terrible at accepting help. Natalie recognized qualities he admired in her because they echoed the woman he lost.
“Did you marry me because I reminded you of her?”
“No. I trusted you because you did.” He corrected himself. “I should have trusted you. Instead, I tried to protect you the way I failed to protect her.”
The distinction mattered. His secrecy had not come from contempt, but fear could still cause harm when given authority.
After dinner, Sebastian asked whether she wanted the ring. Natalie left it in the box. “Not yet.”
He nodded without hiding disappointment. “Then what do you want?”
“A beginning that isn’t tied to a hospital bill, a trust fund, or revenge.” Natalie met his eyes. “Ask me to date you. Let me decide whether I would choose you if marriage weren’t already forcing the answer.”
Sebastian crossed the room but stopped before touching her. “Natalie Quinn, will you go on a first date with me?” She let the silence stretch until his confidence disappeared, then said yes—on the condition that she choose the restaurant and pay her half.