Reclaimed By My Ex-husband
Chapter 16: A burden?

Chapter 16: A burden?

That’s what Zara appreciated most about Paulina. She was the only one who truly cared about her and supported her in this family.

"Thank you, Grandma," Zara said, smiling with genuine warmth. "Just hearing you say that means a lot. I know how Riya is. I didn’t let her words get to me."

Paulina’s expression softened further, her eyes full of affection. "You are a wise girl, Zara. Now get some rest." She turned to Zane and held out a hand. "Come, sweetheart. Let your mommy sleep."

But Zara quickly reached for Zane’s hand. "Let him stay with me, please."

Paulina nodded, laughing softly. "Alright. I’ll leave you two alone." She rose gracefully and left the room.

Zara turned her attention to Zane. "So, how was school today?"

"It was fun. I made a new friend..." Zane launched into an animated story, his hands moving as he spoke.

Zara listened, soaking in every word like it was the most important tale in the world.

Meanwhile, Paulina stepped into Riya’s room.

"Grandma!" Riya called out eagerly, rushing toward her. "Did you see what Zara did? She bullied me. I don’t think she even likes me." Her tone was laced with complaint, her expression crafted to appear wounded.

Paulina’s expression hardened. "Zara hasn’t caused you any trouble in the past five years. Why would she suddenly turn on you now?"

Riya faltered, her mouth opening and closing, unsure of how to respond to the unexpected rebuttal.

Paulina’s eyes sharpened with warning. "Don’t forget she is Nathaniel’s wife. Your sister-in-law. You owe her respect. Stop humiliating yourself by making baseless accusations."

"I’m not lying..." Riya cried out. "She really pushed me—"

"Enough," Paulina interrupted, raising her hand to silence her. "I’m not blind, Riya. Don’t insult my intelligence by trying to deceive me. I’m letting this go for now, but if I catch you bothering Zara again, don’t expect me to go easy on you."

With those final words, Paulina turned and walked out of the room.

Riya stood frozen, her fists clenched at her sides. Her face burned with fury and humiliation. Gritting her teeth, she hissed under her breath, "Why did you come back, Grandma? If you hadn’t returned, Nathaniel would never have brought her back here."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Nathaniel didn’t return home until it was late. The mansion was quiet, cloaked in silence as the rest of the family settled into their dreams. But he didn’t go to his room. Instead, he sat alone at the bar tucked in the corner of the dimly lit hall, a glass of whiskey in hand, his expression blank, his thoughts a storm behind his eyes.

The earlier events still clung to him like thorns. He couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt and shame, the image of Zara’s face after he had tried to kiss her.

Footsteps approached, and then came the sharp but familiar voice. "Drinking alone at this hour?"

Gracie’s figure emerged from the shadows. She crossed her arms as she stepped closer. "Why don’t you go to your room and get some rest?" She sounded irritated, but her expression was clouded with concern.

Nathaniel didn’t respond. His gaze remained fixed on the glass, lost in the glow of the liquor.

Gracie’s heart ached as she watched her son like this. She had seen this version of him far too many times—withdrawn, silent, drowning in grief that hadn’t lessened in five long years. Ever since Nora’s death, he had shut the world out and locked his emotions away. Even Zara’s presence near him couldn’t warm his heart.

She exhaled quietly. "You are really not going to try... not even for Zane?"

Still, no answer.

Gracie took a seat beside him, her voice gentler now. "Zara has been nothing but kind to that child. She has raised him as her own. And she has been good to you all these years, trying to help you heal. You don’t think she deserves a chance?"

Nathaniel said nothing, only tilted the glass again, letting the whiskey burn down his throat. His face gave nothing away as though her words couldn’t penetrate the fortress he had built around himself.

"She cares for you, Nathaniel. She likes you. Anyone can see that. Don’t punish her for something that’s not her fault."

Nathaniel’s hand stiffened slightly around the glass. ’Like me? If she truly did, she wouldn’t have reacted that way when I tried to kiss her.’

Her affection, her concern—it was all a façade. A duty she felt bound to because of a promise she made to her sister. Nothing more.

He tossed back the last of the whiskey in one swift motion.

Gracie’s voice cut through his thoughts. "I know Nora still holds your heart. But Zara is a good woman. A wonderful mother. Couldn’t you at least try—"

"Mom," he interrupted sharply. "There is no love between us. This marriage is a burden I’ve been carrying for too long."

Unseen by either of them, Zara had just stepped out of Zane’s room. She had been quietly shutting the door after putting Zane to sleep when she heard those words.

A burden...

She stood frozen. She had always known he didn’t love her. But hearing it spoken so coldly, shattered something inside her. Tears welled up before she could stop them, spilling silently down her cheeks.

She clutched the edge of the wall for support, heart sinking like a stone.

’So that’s all I am to him... a burden.’ She blinked back her tears. ’I won’t let you carry the burden.’

Without a sound, she slipped into her room.

Nathaniel exhaled slowly as he continued, "I know Zara loves Zane. And to Zane, she is more than his real mom. I promise, even after the divorce, nothing will change between them. She will still be his mother. I won’t let anyone else take that place. I won’t bring another woman into my life."

His words landed like lead in Gracie’s chest. She had watched her son lock his heart away after Nora’s death, but five years of mourning were enough. Wasn’t it time to let go?

"Nathaniel..." she tried to reason, but he cut her off.

"It’s late, Mom. Go get some sleep," he said, rising to his feet. Without another word, he walked away, disappearing into the study.

Gracie stood rooted there, her hands curling into fists at her sides. A flicker of disappointment turned to bitterness.

"Zara, you are nothing but a disappointment. Even after five years, you couldn’t make him fall for you. What’s the use of having beauty and charm if you can’t capture your own husband’s heart? I should never have supported this marriage. It was a mistake from the very beginning."