Reclaimed By My Ex-husband
Chapter 19: The demand

Chapter 19: The demand

At Nathaniel’s office...

Isaac stepped in, hope lighting his eyes as he approached Nathaniel’s desk. He carefully placed a thick file in front of him. "Everything about the project is in here. It has already begun, but without fresh funding, everything is at a standstill. The stock is crashing. If this continues, the company won’t survive."

Nathaniel flipped through the pages, his face unreadable. Isaac waited anxiously, clinging to the thought that Nathaniel, who had once helped him through a rough patch, would extend that same generosity again.

"I came here with hope," Isaac added. "You supported me before. I just need you once more. I’ll never forget it."

Nathaniel closed the file. "This project won’t make it," he said flatly. "It’s a poor investment. I won’t put my money into something that promises no returns. I’m sorry, Isaac. I can’t help you."

Isaac’s face drained of color. He had not expected the rejection. For a moment, he was silent, caught between disbelief and desperation.

"Nathaniel, please..." he pleaded. "Don’t say that. This company is my life’s work. I’ve poured everything into it. If it falls apart, so do I. Help me, please. We are family..."

"I’m a businessman, Mr. Moore," Nathaniel said coldly, cutting him off. "I’m not running a charity. I only care about profit. Still, I helped you many times over the last five years because of our personal ties."

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as they fixed on Isaac. He had been waiting for this moment ever since he witnessed Isaac raise his hand against Zara.

"From covering your hospital expenses to paying off your son’s gambling debts, you kept taking money from Zara. Don’t think I wasn’t aware. I’ve already done more than enough for you and your family. But that ends now."

He gestured toward the door. "You can leave."

Isaac’s heart dropped. Panic clawed at him. He couldn’t afford to leave without securing help. And somewhere deep inside, a bitterness toward Zara brewed.

She could’ve pleaded on his behalf, but she had suddenly become rebellious and distanced herself. Still, he clung to a sliver of hope.

"Please, Nathaniel. Think again before you make the final decision. For the sake of the bond we had, just this one last time, help me. Think about Nora. If she were alive, she would’ve asked you to help me."

At the mention of Nora, Nathaniel’s whole body stiffened. His expression shifted, shoulders tensing.

"That’s enough," he snapped. "Don’t think mentioning Nora or Zara will change my mind. I’ve already done more than I should have for you."

He let out a cold, mocking scoff. "And still, it’s never enough for you. I gave you money—plenty of it. Enough to fix your issues, to start fresh. But what did you do? You wasted it bailing your son out of gambling debts. You are a black hole, a bottomless pit. No matter how much I give, it vanishes. Even if I hand over my entire empire, your son will throw it away at a casino."

Isaac shrank in his seat, shame washing over his face. His eyes darted around, but he couldn’t meet Nathaniel’s gaze. Humiliation and fury burned through him. He was angry with his son for being a disgrace. At the same time, he resented Zara for turning her back on him.

’Ungrateful wretch,’ he seethed silently.

"You are still my wife’s father. So I’ll help you one last time."

Isaac’s head snapped up as soon as he heard those words, hope flaring in his eyes. But that hope soon died down when he heard his demand.

"Don’t expect charity. I want fifty percent of your company’s stock in return."

"Fifty percent?" Isaac repeated, caught off guard.

The number hit him like a blow. Even he didn’t own that much...only forty percent was in his name. The rest belonged to his wife, their children, and a few board members.

Handing Nathaniel fifty percent meant surrendering not just his own stake, but also convincing his family to give up theirs. It meant stepping down as chairman, losing control.

His face twisted with panic. "You can’t do this... Don’t be so cruel..."

"I’m not interested in negotiation, Mr. Moore," Nathaniel said coldly, cutting him off without a flicker of sympathy. "I’ve laid out the terms. Take them or walk out with nothing."

Isaac’s fists clenched on his knees under the table. His pride screamed in protest, but his mind knew better. The company was already teetering on the edge of ruin. Without funds, it wouldn’t last long.

After a beat, he said, "Fine...I accept. Just give me a little time to sort things out."

"You have one week," Nathaniel replied firmly. "If the shares aren’t transferred within that time, the offer is off the table." After a brief pause, he added, "Don’t worry. You will remain the chairman."

Isaac nodded, grateful that he would still have his position. "You’ll have it in a week. I promise."

With that, he stood up and walked out of the office stiffly, his face grim.

Nathaniel’s expression turned steely with restrained fury. He had no genuine interest in owning a piece of the Moore family’s crumbling empire, but the moment Isaac took Nora’s name to sway him, something inside him snapped.

"So, you want me to step in for Nora’s sake?" he muttered under his breath. "Fine. I’ll grant your wish. I’ll take the whole damn company."

A storm churned behind his cold eyes.

His thoughts drifted back to a conversation he once had with Nora. She had once shared the painful truth buried in the past.

Her mother was a strong and intelligent woman. She had been instrumental in helping Isaac build the foundation of the Moore business. She had worked tirelessly to ensure the company’s success. And yet, her loyalty had been repaid with betrayal.

Isaac had cheated on her when the business took off.

Her heartbreak, combined with the burden of illness, had stolen her life too soon.

And after her death, Isaac married his mistress, Lina, and distanced himself from both Nora and Zara as if they were remnants of a life he wanted to forget.

Nathaniel’s fists clenched at his sides.

He no longer saw it as just business. This was justice. He would seize the company not for profit, but for Nora, to ensure the man who wronged them lost the one thing he valued most.

Buzz-Buzz-Buzz...

The soft vibration of his phone dragged Nathaniel out of his stormy thoughts. His eyes flicked to the screen. His mother’s name glowed there. He exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face to collect himself before answering.

"Hello?"

A familiar, bright voice chimed through the phone, bringing warmth to his chest.

"Hello, Daddy..."

The anger that had been simmering just moments ago dissolved in an instant. A small smile broke across Nathaniel’s face, softening.

"You are back from school already. Did you have fun?"

"Yes, I did. And I’ll have even more fun tomorrow," Zane replied, bubbling with enthusiasm. "Mommy is taking me to the amusement park. I want you to come too."

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