Reclaimed By My Ex-husband
Chapter 41: Give us a chance.

Chapter 41: Give us a chance.

Nathaniel didn’t like Zara’s words. The idea of her not wanting to see him, of her wanting to walk away from everything they had, ripped through him like a blade.

Her rejection cut him deep, leaving him breathless. The thought of losing her felt unbearable, like someone tightening a noose around his chest.

’No. She is mine. She can only be mine. I will never let you go.’

His first instinct was to snap back, to shout, to demand she take it back. But he forced the anger down, burying it beneath a strained calm.

"You want to focus on your career? Fine. I’ll support you. Go back to work. I have no problem with that. But don’t ever say you don’t want to see me again. Your fate is tied to mine now. There is no escaping me."

Zara stiffened, her fingers tightening around the bowl. She held back the rising frustration. Then she let out a shaky breath, trying to stay composed.

"Nathaniel," she said calmly, "let’s not turn this into a war. Let’s end this peacefully. We have spent five years together. And we never shouted at each other the way we have these last few days. It’s draining. Can’t we just end this before we completely ruin what little is left between us?"

But Nathaniel was already shaking his head, his expression turning stubborn, almost desperate. "No. I won’t end it now. I told you. We are giving this marriage a second chance. I meant it. We’ll live like a normal, loving couple for a year."

Zara’s eyes flashed again. "I never agreed to that," she snapped. "And I don’t want to waste another year of my life on something that’s already dead."

Nathaniel’s frustration boiled over. "Why not?" he demanded. "You didn’t hesitate to marry me five years ago for Zane. Why can’t you stay with him now? Just give us a chance."

His voice softened with hope as he looked at her, waiting, almost pleading.

But his words hurt her unintentionally.

’Even at this point, he only wants me for Zane,’ she thought.

The hurt in her eyes deepened, and Nathaniel didn’t even realize how deeply he had just cut her. Once again, he had reduced her entire existence to a sacrifice for Zane, like she was just a convenient presence.

The realization made her chest tighten. She had spent years in a hollow marriage, playing the part of a dutiful wife, waiting for love that never came. But she was done pretending. She didn’t want to survive in a marriage built on responsibility and silence. She wanted to be seen, chosen, loved.

"You are worried about Zane, then don’t be. I’ll always be his mother. He can visit me whenever he wants, spend time with me. For that, we don’t need to stay married."

Nathaniel shot up from the bed, agitated. He yanked at his tie, his face tightening with discomfort. "I’ve told you before—Zane is too young for this. A divorce will affect him. It could mess with his mind, make him feel unstable."

He turned to her, his shoulders squaring, his expression turning cold with resolve. "He means everything to me. I’d do anything to protect him. And if that means forcing you to stay by my side, I won’t hesitate."

Zara blinked, stunned by the sheer audacity of his words.

His eyes flicked down to the bowl in her hands.

"Finish your food," he said curtly. "Mrs. Jules will bring the main course."

He turned and walked out.

Zara stared at the half-empty bowl, her appetite gone. She put the bowl aside and leaned back against the headboard. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

She had thought that after the rebirth, she had let go of him completely, that she had buried whatever love remained beneath layers of strength and self-preservation.

But the ache in her chest told a different story.

"Why does it still hurt?" she muttered.

She wasn’t supposed to feel this anymore. And yet, here she was, heart stinging from wounds.

Maybe because some fragile part of her still harbored hope, a stubborn hope that he might one day change, that he might see her, and choose her.

But he didn’t. And that crushed her more than anything.

Her lips trembled as she whispered, "I regret meeting you. I regret ever falling in love with you."

One tear escaped, tracing silently down her cheek.

Nathaniel came to a bar with a heaviness clinging to his chest. He hadn’t set foot in a bar for years, not since his doctor warned him to avoid alcohol due to his stomach condition. But tonight, he didn’t care. He wanted to numb the ache in his heart.

Sliding onto a stool at the counter, he muttered, "Scotch."

The bartender nodded and poured the amber liquid into a glass.

Nathaniel wrapped his fingers around the glass, staring at the liquid. But all he could see were her words echoing in his head.

’I’ll always be his mother. For that, we don’t have to continue this marriage...’

Her words struck deeper than Nathaniel had anticipated, stirring a restlessness he couldn’t ignore.

Zara wasn’t completely wrong.

He had once believed the same thing. But he had changed his mind about divorcing her because he was afraid Zane might not be able to handle the emotional fallout. But now, hearing them from her lips, they twisted like a blade in his chest.

He took a sip of the scotch. The sharp burn coursed down his throat, stoking the fire already raging in his chest. It didn’t help.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

The line clicked as it connected. "Hey, are you free?" Nathaniel asked wearily.

"Just finished my round. What’s going on? Is everything okay?" Eugen’s voice came through, filled with concern.

"I need you. Can you come to the bar?"

There was a pause. "You are drinking again?" Eugen exclaimed.

"Don’t panic. I remember what you told me," Nathaniel replied. "Just two pegs. I won’t overdo it. But I really need to talk."

"Alright," Eugen sighed. "I’m on my way."

Nathaniel lifted his glass and took a slow sip.

"Nathaniel? You... why are you here?"

The voice pulled him from his thoughts. He turned, brows furrowing, and saw Riya standing there.