Reclaimed By My Ex-husband

Zachary's mouth curved into a sly, knowing smirk, the kind that sent an uneasy chill down Riya's spine. His mind wandered back to that night at the hotel where he had crossed paths with Liam by pure chance. They had brushed past each other, Liam moving with such haste he didn't notice the wallet slipping from his pocket.

Zachary had picked it up, ready to return it, when a small photograph tucked inside caught his eye. The sight had stopped him cold.

His silence was making Riya twitch with impatience. She clutched his sleeve. "Who is she?" she asked eagerly.

He answered with a smug satisfaction, "It's Zara."

He couldn't forget what he had seen. It was clearly Zara's photo in her school uniform, and he was certain Liam had liked her since school.

Riya's reaction was explosive. "What? Zara? That's impossible—you must be mistaken."

He turned toward her, the shock in her expression both amusing and familiar. After all, he had felt the same disbelief at first. The idea that Liam, a man infamous for his fleeting romances, harbored feelings for Zara seemed absurd. Yet the photograph in that wallet had told him otherwise.

"Why else would he carry her picture?" Zachary asked.

Riya's thoughts churned. He had a point—men didn't keep photos of women they didn't care for. As the realization sank in, a sharp, hot twist of jealousy gripped her chest.

"Unbelievable," she muttered tightly.

Although she felt nothing for Liam, he was the man her parents intended for her to marry. He was supposed to be her fiancé. But the thought of Zara being in his heart was infuriating.

Nathaniel had already begun showing interest in Zara, refusing to divorce her. And now, to make matters worse, his best friend secretly harbored feelings for the same woman.

How was it possible that both men from two of the city's most influential families had fallen for her? Zara, in Riya's mind, should have been left alone, unloved, undesirable, and unwanted. Instead, she seemed to have captured the devotion of the two powerful men in the city.

The thought stoked a fire of jealousy and rage in Riya's chest.

"That bitch," she hissed through clenched teeth. "She married Nathaniel, knowing full well his best friend had feelings for her. It's ridiculous."

"I doubt she knows," Zachary replied calmly. "But as for Liam's feelings… we can turn them to our advantage. Use him to create a rift between her and Nathaniel."

Riya snapped her gaze toward him. "What?"

A sly smile tugged at his lips. "Didn't you say you wanted her out of Nathaniel's life? Here is your perfect chance. If Liam finds out Nathaniel doesn't love her and is only keeping her for his son's sake, he'll grow impatient… and make his move to claim her."

As his words sank in, a sharp idea took shape in her mind. A shrewd glimmer lit her eyes. This could be the perfect opportunity to push Zara out of Nathaniel's life. All she needed to do was play her cards right and make Liam believe that Zara was truly unhappy with Nathaniel.

"You are right," she murmured. "I'll make sure Liam gets the woman he loves."

This was her chance for revenge. The sting of last night's humiliation still burned, each memory fueling her resolve. In her mind, Zara was the reason everyone in the house had turned cold toward her.

Now, she would get back to her. She wanted to witness their reactions when they discovered Zara betraying Nathaniel.

The car came to a stop in front of an opulent shopping mall. Riya looked at the towering structure, her smile fading.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked with an edge of wariness in her tone.

A sly glint flickered in his eyes, but his tone was playful. "You are my woman, and I haven't given you a gift yet. Come on—let me buy you something."

Before she could respond, he had already stepped out. Riya hesitated, scanning the area with cautious glances. The thought of someone spotting her and fueling gossip about her connection with Zachary made her uneasy.

One photograph in the wrong hands could blow her up. With her parents already furious, any hint of such a link could lead to them disowning her, shattering her chances of carrying out her revenge on Zara.

'I can't afford any mistakes,' she reminded herself.

Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a face mask and slipped it on before stepping out of the car. Zachary noticed and arched a brow.

"Feeling uneasy?" he asked with teasing amusement.

Riya bit back the urge to roll her eyes. Of course, she was uneasy. She was a public figure, and scandals had a way of spreading like wildfire.

Keeping her voice calm, she replied, "I just don't want anyone recognizing me. If paparazzi show up, it will be difficult for me to escape."

A strange smile tugged at his lips. It was as if he had brought her there deliberately with a hidden motive in his heart. "While I'm with you, you have nothing to fear. You can rely on me."

Behind her mask, Riya scoffed silently. 'You are the reason I feel unsafe. And you want me to rely on you?'

But she forced a grateful tone. "Thanks."

Zachary wrapped an arm around her waist and steered her toward the entrance.

Zachary led Riya straight into an upscale jewelry boutique. Riya stepped inside, momentarily stunned, her lips parting beneath her mask.

"Planning to buy me a ring?" she teased, glancing up at him.

He gave a dismissive scoff. "Pick whatever you want."

Her eyes lit up instantly. Just last night, her father had gifted her a rare red diamond necklace, and now Zachary was offering her free rein in a luxury jewelry store. The resentment and irritation she had been carrying since last night began to fade like smoke.

"In that case, I'll see if something catches my eye," she said, striding forward with spring in her step.

She passed a row of glittering diamond rings, each one exquisite, but she didn't stop. She wanted to explore the rest of the collection to find something truly unique.

But the moment she rounded the corner into the next section, her feet froze. In the far corner, she spotted Zara and Nathaniel browsing together. The sudden sight made her stomach drop, and the spark of excitement she had felt moments ago drained away entirely.

'They are here too,' she thought, a rush of surprise and displeasure flooding her mind.