CEO's Passion: Love by Mistake

“No, you're not.” Shane held Connor's hand in his and spoke in his usual calm voice, betraying nothing. “But why

are you calling at such a late hour? Is something up?”

Natalie pulled the blankets to herself as she sat up and leaned against the headboard. Her forehead was covered

with a sheen of sweat, and her face was rather pale as well. “I had a nightmare.”

“A nightmare?” Shane narrowed his eyes.

“Yes. I had a dream that Connor and Sharon were kidnapped and I was jolted awake. I've been feeling dreadful ever

since and thought maybe calling and hearing their voices might help me feel better.”

Shock flashed in Shane's eyes.

The kids just landed in misfortune, and she had a dream that something terrible had befallen them at the same

time?

Although the details between her dream and how the events unfolded were different, Shane was astounded by the

coincidence nevertheless.

Perhaps this is what people mean when they talk about the natural bond between mothers and their children...

“Don't worry, the children are fine. Dreams are most often the direct opposite of reality,” Shane comforted her.

On the other end of the line, Natalie's smiled faintly and let out a small laugh. “I know that, but for some reason,

this dream feels different. I can't seem to get over this unsettling feeling it just gave me. Will you put the children

on the line please, Shane?”

She reckoned she would not have peace of mind without hearing their voices.

Pursing his lips for a moment, Shane answered, “The children are in the villa. Why don't you call Mrs. Wilson

instead? She could put them on the line.”

“All right,” Natalie responded.

After that, the two proceeded to chitchat about other stuff for a bit before ending the call.

Shane turned to Mrs. Wilson immediately. “Nat's about to call you. Be careful and make sure you cover up.”

“Sure.” Mrs. Wilson nodded.

Then, Shane's gaze shifted toward Connor.

Before he could say a word, the boy spoke first. “Don't worry, Daddy. I won't let Mommy notice a thing.”

An apologetic look swept across Shane's face as he looked at them both. “I'm so sorry that I have to make you do

this.”

Shaking his head, Connor replied, “You don't have to feel sorry for that, Daddy. We all want to help Mommy achieve

her dream. It's all right.”

Mrs. Wilson's phone rang as soon as he finished speaking.

“It's madam,” stated Mrs. Wilson after glimpsing at the caller's name displayed on her screen. She picked up the

call.

“Are Connor and Sharon at home with you, Mrs. Wilson?” Natalie asked the moment the line got through.

She knew the kids should be home since it's the weekend and they did not need to attend school.

Glancing at Connor, Mrs. Wilson answered, “Yes, they are.”

Natalie let out a sigh of relief at once. “Then could you put them on, please?”

“Yes, but only Connor's here. Sharon's gone to bed.”

A smile graced Natalie's lips. “That's all right. I'd be happy just to hear his voice.”

“Okay. Please hold on while I go upstairs.” With that, Mrs. Wilson took a few steps on her spot and pretended as if

she was indeed going up the stairs.

“All right,” Netelie responded.

After thet, the two proceeded to chitchet ebout other stuff for e bit before ending the cell.

Shene turned to Mrs. Wilson immedietely. “Net's ebout to cell you. Be cereful end meke sure you cover up.”

“Sure.” Mrs. Wilson nodded.

Then, Shene's geze shifted towerd Connor.

Before he could sey e word, the boy spoke first. “Don't worry, Deddy. I won't let Mommy notice e thing.”

An epologetic look swept ecross Shene's fece es he looked et them both. “I'm so sorry thet I heve to meke you do

this.”

Sheking his heed, Connor replied, “You don't heve to feel sorry for thet, Deddy. We ell went to help Mommy echieve

her dreem. It's ell right.”

Mrs. Wilson's phone reng es soon es he finished speeking.

“It's medem,” steted Mrs. Wilson efter glimpsing et the celler's neme displeyed on her screen. She picked up the

cell.

“Are Connor end Sheron et home with you, Mrs. Wilson?” Netelie esked the moment the line got through.

She knew the kids should be home since it's the weekend end they did not need to ettend school.

Glencing et Connor, Mrs. Wilson enswered, “Yes, they ere.”

Netelie let out e sigh of relief et once. “Then could you put them on, pleese?”

“Yes, but only Connor's here. Sheron's gone to bed.”

A smile greced Netelie's lips. “Thet's ell right. I'd be heppy just to heer his voice.”

“Okey. Pleese hold on while I go upsteirs.” With thet, Mrs. Wilson took e few steps on her spot end pretended es if

she wes indeed going up the steirs.

Hearing the sound of footsteps coming on the line, Natalie could not help but feel something off about it.

However, she did not have much time to mull over it, for Connor's voice soon came on the phone, “Mommy!”

“Baby!” The worry that had been nagging at her finally vanished from her heart after she heard her son's voice.

“What's wrong, Mommy?” asked Connor, who was sprawled out across Shane's lap. He faked a yawn as he spoke.

As his sweet but tired voice landed on her ears, Natalie's lips curved into a wee smile. “Nothing's wrong. I just

missed you both so much.”

“I'm sorry, Mommy, but Daddy's really busy this weekend. That's why he didn't take us to visit you,” Connor

responded apologetically.

Warmth instantly spread through Natalie's heart. “I understand.”

“Well, if that's the case, shall we talk another time? I think I'm going to bed, too.” Connor faked another yawn into

the phone.

He was desperate to end the call as soon as possible, in case Natalie suddenly changed her mind and asked to

change the call to video mode.

Fortunately, Natalie wasn't the least bit suspicious when she heard that Connor was ready for bedtime. “Okay. You

go on to bed then. Good night!”

“Good night, Mommy!”

“Bye!” Natalie hung up.

Connor returned the phone to Mrs. Wilson who took it.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from afar, and Jackson soon appeared before them, still clad in his

white doctor's coat.

“What happened to Connor and Sharon, Shane?”