Chapter 40 40 Chapter 40 Midnight Comfort Monica's POV The gentle touch of a hand on my shoulder stirred me from my troubled sleep. I hadn't even heard Kayla arrive with Austin. My eyes fluttered open to find Natalie perched beside me on the bed, her face etched with concern in the soft glow of a single lamp. "Hey there," I murmured, pushing myself upright against the pillows. The weight of earlier crashed back into my consciousness, bringing with it a wave of fresh sorrow. events "What's going on, sweetie? Kayla mentioned you were already in bed when she got here with Austin. She came to check on you but didn't want to wake you. She also noticed the tear stains. Did Did Morris say something stupid? First fights happen, you know," Natalie's voice carried that reassuring steadiness that always managed to calm my storms. I shook my head, feeling the ache in my chest intensify. "It's not just a fight, Natalie. What happened today was... devastating." "Well, spill it, and we'll figure out together if it's as bad as you think. And if it truly is awful, I'll send Jasper to kick Lorenzo's smug behind into next week. She squeezed my hand, trying to lighten my mood with her characteristic humor. "I'll tell you everything, but... where's Austin?" Suddenly realizing the time, anxiety flared within me. My son should have been home hours ago. "Relax, mama bear. Kayla's staying over tonight. They're having a blast in the living room. Let her handle Austin for now; you're clearly not okay. She'll take care of your little guy while I take care of you." Natalie ran her fingers through my tangled hair with sisterly affection. "You're right. Better he doesn't see me like this," I conceded, wiping at my eyes. "Just give me ten minutes to shower, and then we can talk?" "Take your time. I'll be right here." In the bathroom, I let scalding water cascade over me, wishing it could wash away more than just the physical traces of the day. But no amount of hot water could cleanse the wound that had opened inside me. When I returned to my bedroom wrapped in my robe, Natalie had prepared a makeshift picnic on my bed a tray of comfort food and an enormous container of ice cream with two spoons waiting beside it. "Over here, honey. Food first, then we demolish this ice cream and your problems along with it." She patted the space beside her. complied, forcing myself to eat despite my lack of appetite. Austin needed me strong, not sick from neglect. I shouldn't have let Morris breach the walls around my heart. As I finished the last bite of food, Natalie ceremoniously opened the ice cream and handed me a spoon. Between 40 Chapter 40- Midnight Comfort heaping spoonfuls of chocolate therapy, I recounted the day's events in excruciating detail, fresh tears rolling down my cheeks as I relived each painful moment. "That absolute bastard!" Natalie's eyes flashed dangerously. "How dare he treat you like that? The nerve of that man! I swear I'm going to make him regret ever crossing you." Her fierce loyalty warmed me slightly. Natalie had always shouldered my pain as if it were her own, insisting that burdens shared became burdens halved. "I think I need to call my parents," I admitted, staring into the ice cream tub. "Tell them I'm coming home. Morris has too much influence here. He could blacklist me from every decent firm in town. Do you think your uncle would even consider hiring me after this?" "Are you kidding me? My uncle or even my dad would snap you up in a heartbeat. They know Who you are, Monica. They don't question your integrity or professionalism for a second." Natalie's voice was firm. "But you're not running home. You're staying right here and staging a comeback. Morris may have power, but he's not omnipotent. We'll find you another position somewhere else. And when that arrogant fool finally realizes his mistake, you'll have the pleasure of watching him grovel." "He won't ever regret it, Natalie, I sighed, dejected. "He's already decided I'm guilty. He has no intention of looking for the real culprit." "Oh, honey. If there's one thing my father taught me about business, it's that traitors eventually expose themselves through their own overconfidence. Trust me, he'll discover the truth, especially when this audit concludes. The real guilty party won't stay hidden forever." I pushed the ice cream away, suddenly feeling nauseated. "You didn't see how Darren looked at me. Only Paula stood by my side. Everyone else..." My voice cracked as fresh tears threatened. "They're all idiots, Natalic declared, her jaw set in anger. "Every last one of them. You know who you are, Monica. Your conscience is clear, and that's what matters. The rest of those corporate clowns can go to hell." She squeezed my hand. "But mark my words - they'll regret turning against you. I guarantee it." I managed a weak smile, exhaustion suddenly overwhelming me. Natalie noticed immediately, reaching for her purse and extracting a small pill and a glass of water from the nightstand. "For your headache," she explained. "You must be pounding after all those tears." She was right my temples were throbbing mercilessly. I swallowed the medication gratefully and sank back onto my pillows. Natalie stayed until my eyelids grew heavy, then quietly collected our dinner things and slipped out, turning off the light as she went. Despite my physical exhaustion, sleep provided no refuge. The night stretched endlessly, punctuated by vivid nightmares that jerked me awake with fresh tears staining my pillow. By dawn, I felt as though I hadn't slept at all just drifted through a haze of pain and betrayal that showed no signs of lifting with the rising sun. - In "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" by CrushReel, the storyline unfolds as renowned photographer Jane finds herself drawn to the charismatic rookie model, Hector. 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