Reclaimed By My Ex-husband
Chapter 28: The trash

Chapter 28: The trash

Irritation surged through Zara. She squirmed in his hold, trying to push him away, but Nathaniel’s grip only tightened in response. It was like trying to fight iron. Eventually, her strength gave out, and she froze, locking eyes with him, her glare sharp enough to cut.

"Why do you care?" she spat. "Whether I’m alone or surrounded by friends, it shouldn’t matter to you. I’m doing just fine without you. Now let me go."

He didn’t flinch.

"Yeah," he said with a cold scoff, eyes flicking down to her bandaged leg. "I can really see how fine you are doing. Look at yourself. If you had stayed put and rested, you’d be halfway healed by now. But no, you had to play tough. Ride around on a bike with your friend, ignore the doctor’s advice. And now?" He glanced pointedly at her. "You can’t even stand without a support."

His words hit a nerve, slicing through her already raw emotions.

"You followed me?" she exclaimed with disbelief.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he scooped her up and placed her gently on the sofa. "Where is your room?" he asked, looking around.

She tried to sit up. "What are you doing now?" she asked, her tone defensive, suspicious.

"Are you going to tell me where your room is, or should I kick every door open until I find it?"

Zara shifted uncomfortably, trapped between rage and confusion. "That one," she muttered, pointing toward the guest room. "But why? What are you even trying to do?"

Without sparing her another glance, he turned and strode into the room.

Zara’s eyes darted to her crutch, which had fallen a short distance away. Determined to follow him, she leaned forward and tried to stand.

Pain shot through her leg like a lightning bolt.

She gasped, buckling under the pressure, and collapsed back onto the cushions. Her face twisted in pain and frustration, her hands gripping the edge of the sofa.

She felt helpless, and she hated it.

Nathaniel emerged from the guest room, dragging her suitcase behind him.

Zara sat bolt upright, gripping the edge of the sofa. "Why are you bringing my suitcase out?"

"Because you are coming with me," he said flatly, no room for argument in his tone.

"No," she shot back, voice full of defiance. "I’m not going anywhere with you. Didn’t you get the divorce agreement? I signed it."

Nathaniel cocked his head, feigning ignorance. "Divorce agreement?"

Zara blinked, caught off guard. "The one I sent you—you didn’t get it?"

"Oh, that," he said with a raised eyebrow. "You mean the trash I threw where it belonged?"

Zara stared at him, stunned. "You threw it away!" she shouted, her grip on the sofa tightening. "Why? You were the one who wanted a divorce. I finally agreed on my own terms. Now you hesitate?"

"Don’t bring that up again," he warned.

Then, as if she hadn’t said a word, he turned and dialed a number. As the call logged in, he ordered, "Roberto, get in here. Take the suitcase."

Zara’s chest heaved in anger. "Wait... You can’t just drag me out of here. You don’t have the right."

Nathaniel faced her, eyes cold and unreadable. "And who is going to stop me? You? With that injured leg? You can’t even stand without wincing."

Zara opened her mouth to fire back, but he didn’t give her the chance.

"I’ve shown you patience for years. Don’t push me to show you the side I’ve kept buried."

Before she could react, he closed the distance and scooped her up into his arms yet again.

"Nathaniel, you hooligan!" she grunted, squirming. "Put me down. I swear I’ll scream..."

The more Zara fought against his grip, the more resolute Nathaniel became. He held her tighter, locking her against his chest as he tried to keep her from slipping away.

"I didn’t realize you were this stubborn." He looked down at her, his brows drawn together in a mix of surprise and fascination. "You used to be quiet, gentle, and obedient. Sweet. Now, you are snapping at me, fighting back. You have changed completely."

He tilted his head, studying her like she was something unfamiliar.

"It’s like your body stayed the same, but someone else took over. You have become someone else overnight, just because I mentioned divorce?"

His words sliced through her like glass.

Zara’s eyes darted away, her features tensing. Of course, she had changed. She had become someone else.

Pain did that. Heartbreak did that.

She had loved him, deeply, silently, for so long. She had waited, hoped, endured. But after seeing the truth, after hearing his indifference when she was dying, how could she remain the same?

Nathaniel, clueless to the storm in her heart, gave a faint smirk.

"You love me, don’t you?" His eyes shimmered with amusement.

Her heart jolted. For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

Yes—she had loved him secretly. She had poured everything into a marriage, with every quiet gesture, every patient smile, every attempt to reach him. But she got only heartbreak and disappointment in return. And now, when everything was broken, when she had finally stopped hoping, he dared to say that.

She stared at him, eyes dark with emotion. Whatever love she had carried, it was long buried under the weight of his neglect. The warmth she once felt had curdled into something colder, something bitter.

"You are putting on this whole show just to get my attention," Nathaniel said with a mocking smile.

’So, it’s just a show for him.’

Zara’s blood boiled. Her hands curled into fists. If she could’ve moved freely, she would’ve punched him right then and there.

"Trust me," he added with a smirk, "it worked. It really made me rethink everything."

The words crashed into her like a blow to the head. ’What? What was that supposed to mean?’

Before she could ask, footsteps echoed from outside the door. Roberto stepped into view and froze at the doorstep when he saw Nathaniel carrying Zara.

Nathaniel flicked his eyes toward the suitcase. "Take it out," he ordered.

Without a word, Roberto obeyed, hauling the suitcase out of the apartment.

Zara’s fury boiled over. "Nathaniel, I’m warning you," she hissed, struggling in his arms. "You can’t force me to go with you. I don’t care if you’ve had a sudden change of heart—it’s too late. I’ve already made up my mind."

But he kept walking, calm and unfazed, like her voice was nothing more than background noise.

"I don’t want to be with you," she snapped, louder this time. "Did you hear me?"

Still, he said nothing.

His silence was maddening. It ignited something primal inside her. She gritted her teeth and muttered, "I hate you."

"Great. Then scream." Nathaniel glanced at her then, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Call the neighbors. Tell them I’m kidnapping you. Go on—let’s see how much you hate me."