Reclaimed By My Ex-husband
Chapter 13: Did she truly hate him?

Chapter 13: Did she truly hate him?

The moment Zara and Nathaniel stepped inside, Zane’s voice rang out with pure joy, "Mommy, Daddy!" His tiny feet pattered toward them in excitement.

"Wait—careful." Nathaniel quickly extended his arm protectively to stop Zane before he could reach Zara. "Your mommy is hurt."

Zane froze, his cheerful expression instantly shifting to concern. "Mommy? You are hurt?"

Zara offered him a reassuring smile. "Just a small sprain, sweetheart. Nothing serious."

Before Zane could say more, a stern voice cut through the room. "How did you get hurt?"

They turned toward the hallway to see Paulina, the family’s formidable matriarch, stepping into the living room with Gracie by her side. Her sharp eyes immediately zeroed in on Zara, then narrowed at Nathaniel.

"Did this brat trouble you?" she asked, throwing Nathaniel a look of pure disapproval.

Nathaniel gasped dramatically. "Grandma, really?"

"I’m alright, Grandma," Zara said, attempting to defuse the tension.

Paulina waved off her words with a dismissive flick of her hand. "Don’t defend him. I know exactly how he is." She gave Nathaniel one last withering look before barking another command. "Don’t just stand there. Get her to the room."

"I’m coming too," Zane chimed, eager to follow.

"No, love," Nathaniel said gently. "Mommy needs to rest. You stay here and keep Grandma company."

As Zara limped forward, she winced sharply in pain. Nathaniel swept her into his arms again, catching her off guard.

Zane burst into delighted laughter, his hands flying up to cover his mouth.

Gracie walked over. "That’s enough for you." She placed her palm over Zane’s eyes. "Let’s leave Mommy and Daddy alone. Come on, let’s go play with your great-grandma."

With that, the trio made their way out to the backyard, Zane still giggling as Gracie gently guided him away.

As Nathaniel made his way down the hallway, a sudden figure stepped into his path.

It was Riya.

"Nathaniel!" she called out. Her gaze flicked between him and the woman in his arms, disbelief flashing across her face. He was supposed to be divorcing Zara. What was she doing here, nestled against him like that?

Riya masked her jealousy with a thin veil of concern. "What happened? Why are you carrying her?"

"She twisted her ankle," Nathaniel answered.

He didn’t catch the bitterness behind Riya’s feigned sympathy, but Zara did. Her sharp eyes registered every flicker of jealousy that Riya tried to hide. A mischievous spark danced in her eyes. Slowly, she tightened her arms around Nathaniel’s neck, dropping her head on his shoulder.

Riya’s expression stiffened, her fists curling by her sides. Her insides twisted with a sickening cocktail of rage and helplessness.

"Nathaniel, I’m tired," Zara murmured softly. "Take me to the room."

Her voice held a husky note, and the way she batted her lashes sent a strange jolt through Nathaniel. His throat tightened, and a flush crept up the back of his neck, spreading to his ears.

He blinked, momentarily thrown off. ’What is she doing?’ he thought, feeling a knot twist in his lower abdomen. ’Is she trying to seduce me?’

Riya stood frozen, watching Nathaniel carry Zara away with a tenderness she had never received from him. The sight burned through her like acid. Jealousy twisted inside her until she couldn’t contain it any longer. In a last-ditch attempt to pull his attention back to herself, she suddenly collapsed to the floor.

"Nathaniel," she whimpered dramatically, pressing a hand to her forehead and squeezing her eyes shut. "I feel dizzy..."

Nathaniel stopped and turned, brow creased as he looked at her.

"Helga," he called out curtly. "Take Riya to her room and call the doctor."

Then he turned and continued toward the bedroom with Zara in his arms.

Riya’s eyes snapped open as his figure disappeared behind the door. Her body trembled from fury. Her hands curled against the floor, nails biting into her palms. ’You bitch,’ she seethed silently. ’Why can’t you stay away from him?’

"Miss, are you alright?" Helga rushed over, concern on her face. She reached for Riya’s hand, but Riya slapped it away. Her pride was wounded, and her heart burned with the bitter sting of rejection.

"Don’t touch me," she snarled, shooting a venomous glare at the maid.

She got to her feet and stormed off toward her room.

Inside Nathaniel’s bedroom...

He gently laid Zara down on the bed. But instead of stepping away, he lingered, his gaze locked on her, silently waiting, hoping for a sign. Just one word, one look, and he would abandon the idea of divorcing her and let himself think about giving a chance to this marriage. His heart thudded with anticipation.

But her next words cut through the moment like ice.

"You should go and check on her," she said flatly, her tone distant and void of emotion. Whatever closeness she had shown earlier was now gone, leaving behind only cool detachment.

Nathaniel’s face hardened into a scowl. "Are you throwing me out? I was trying to be kind, and this is how you repay me?"

"She is your dear sister," Zara retorted sharply. "She is in pain. Shouldn’t you go check on her?"

He stared at her, torn, then finally said, "No... I’ll call the doctor first." As he moved to step back, a sudden jolt stopped him.

"Ouch..." Zara flinched, her face contorted in pain.

Startled, Nathaniel looked down and realized the strands of her hair were snagged on the button of his shirt.

"My hair," she groaned, reaching up instinctively.

"Don’t move," he muttered. "It’s tangled..." He leaned in, fumbling awkwardly with the strands. But the more he tried to free them, the worse it became.

"You are hurting me," she hissed through gritted teeth, her eyes narrowed in pain as his clumsy fingers only made the knot tighter.

"Can you stop talking? I’m trying," Nathaniel muttered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he struggled with the delicate task.

"Trying?" Zara shot back. "You’re only making it worse. Let me do it—"

Their hands collided, both reaching for the same tangled strands.

"Move your hand away," he growled in irritation.

"You move yours," she snapped, equally annoyed.

Instead of working together, they ended up swatting at each other’s hands, turning the small task into a petty argument.

"Fine," Nathaniel finally gave up, exasperated. "I’m not doing it anymore."

"Thanks," she muttered, forcing a tight smile before turning her focus on untangling the strands herself.

He silently watched her. Her face was calm and focused, her fingers careful and gentle. And as he watched, his heart started to beat faster.

He realized how blind he had been—how much he had ignored her since the day they married. Work had always been his excuse. But the truth was he had kept his heart locked away, guarded, because he had already given it to Nora, his first wife. And in doing so, he had never given Zara a real chance.

It wasn’t until Zara walked out of his life that he truly understood how deeply she had become a part of it.

Her absence seeped into every corner of his days, leaving him adrift and strangely powerless.

He used to believe he could live without her until he came face to face with the reality of just how much he had come to rely on her.

Her quiet presence had become essential to him. Her leaving had left a void he couldn’t ignore.

Lost in his thought and mesmerized by her closeness, he leaned down to kiss her.

Zara abruptly turned her head away, her face pale. "Move." She pushed him back and hurried to the bathroom.

He blinked, stunned. A moment later, the harsh sound of her retching echoed from inside.

"What the—" he muttered, confusion sweeping across his face.

Was she so repulsed by the idea of him kissing her? Did she truly hate him that much?