Reclaimed By My Ex-husband

The jab in her voice didn't escape Nathaniel's notice.

Riya was the one who had sown tension between them. Quietly, he resolved to be more cautious, determined not to allow any misunderstanding to come between him and his wife again.

He tugged lightly at the hem of her nightdress. "Zara…I haven't eaten anything since last night. I'm hungry."

When Zara turned back to him, Nathaniel blinked up at her with an innocent, almost childlike expression. For a moment, she looked at him speechlessly, taken aback.

That look—it was all too familiar.

Zane made that very same face whenever he wanted something from her. Suddenly, she realized the little boy had inherited this trait from his father.

A mix of surprise and amusement danced across Zara's face, though she quickly masked it with a feigned irritation. "Again—your fault. Why didn't you eat anything last night?" She scowled. "Do you want to collapse again and end up in the hospital? So careless. If you don't care about yourself, at least think about those who do."

She rose to leave the room.

Nathaniel held her wrist again, stopping her. "Do you… care about me?"

Zara glanced down at him. She cared about him, but she wouldn't say it. "There are others in the family who care about you. I'm talking about them." She pushed his hand away before exiting the room.

The corners of Nathaniel's lips curled with an amused smile. Beneath her indifferent words and defiance, he had heard the truth he longed for: 'She does care about me.'

Zara returned after a while, carrying a steaming bowl of chicken broth. She found Nathaniel dozing lightly, his cheeks flushed with fever.

"Nathaniel," she called softly.

He opened his eyes groggily, feeling disoriented.

"Come and eat," she said, placing the bowl on the table and gently helping him sit up. "It's still hot." She stretched the bowl to him.

But he didn't take it. Instead, he demanded, "Feed me."

Zara instantly raised her eyes at him, startled.

Nathaniel had never acted like this before. No matter how ill, he always ate on his own. When had he started behaving like a child, demanding to be fed?

"What are you staring at?" he groaned, pressing a hand to his aching brow. "I could barely lift my head. Come on, feed me."

"You eat on your own." She pushed the bowl slightly toward him.

He winced, leaning back against the pillows, fingers massaging his temples. "My headache is worsening," he muttered.

Zara realized he was only putting on a show to get her to feed him. Given that he was unwell, she chose not to argue and gave in. With a resigned sigh, she picked up the spoon and began feeding him carefully, one small mouthful at a time.

Throughout the entire meal, Nathaniel's eyes never left her face. He watched her every movement with a quiet intensity.

Under his unwavering gaze, Zara's cheeks heated up.

"Stop staring at me," she muttered, averting her eyes.

But he didn't look away. "You are acting like we are just married… still shy after five years?" A faint, teasing smile danced on his lips.

The air between them turned warm and intimate all of a sudden.

Zara's heart raced with a mix of frustration and bewilderment. She couldn't understand this man—one moment distant and cold, the next playful and affectionate, almost like a man utterly captivated by her.

Her mind whirled. Did he truly care for her? Could he have actually fallen in love with her after all this time?

But she immediately pushed the thought aside, scolding herself.

How could that be possible? Nora had always been the one he loved; she could never take her place in his heart.

Shaking off the confusing emotions, she thrust the bowl into his hands. "Eat yourself." She jumped to her feet and fled the room, her cheeks turning red.

Nathaniel let out a chuckle, shaking his head. He brought the bowl to his lips and finished the remaining broth.

An hour later…

Eugen stepped into the room. "What happened to you? Zara called me—said I should come check on you."

His voice jolted Nathaniel from his drowsy state. He lazily propped himself up, blinking at him.

Eugen set his bag down, his keen eyes sweeping over his friend. "Zara said you've got a fever and a headache," he said, already retrieving a digital oral thermometer. He slid it into Nathaniel's mouth. "Any other symptoms besides these?"

Nathaniel shook his head weakly.

"Alright…" Eugen murmured, waiting for the thermometer's beep. When it finally sounded, he pulled it out and checked the reading. "Hmm… high fever. I'll give you some medicine."

From his bag, he produced a small container of pills and some water. "Take these. You'll recover in a few days. But…" His eyes twinkled with curiosity. "How on earth did you end up catching a fever?"

Nathaniel shrugged. "Zara didn't let me into the bedroom last night. I spent the night outside the room and fell asleep there."

Eugen froze for a moment, unable to process the words. Then he burst into uncontrollable laughter. "You… Nathaniel Grant… slept outside your own room on the bare, cold floor?"

He threw his head back, laughing loudly. "I can't believe it. Zara actually kicked you out…"

The sound of Eugen's laughter filled the air, leaving Nathaniel annoyed.

Nathaniel shot Eugen a sharp glare. "Are you my friend or my enemy?" he grunted. "I'm lying here, sick with a high fever and a pounding headache, and you are laughing at me!"

Eugen tried to mask his amusement with a serious expression, but the laughter bubbling inside him was too strong. Only when he caught Nathaniel's deepening scowl did he manage to rein it in.

"Alright, alright… on a serious note… What on earth did you do to make Zara so furious?" Eugen asked, trying to sound serious, though the twinkle in his eyes betrayed him. "God, this woman… I always thought she was quiet, docile, even a little meek. But this—she is fierce."

Nathaniel said nothing. He also agreed with Eugen.

Zara wasn't just fierce—she possessed a unique boldness, resilience, determination, and a stubbornness that both frustrated and captivated him.

He had once thought she was weak, always following others' directions quietly, never asserting herself. He hadn't realized how much patience and courage it required.

She had devoted five years to him and their marriage, enduring his indifference and waiting for him to recognize and appreciate her truly. In the past, Nathaniel had overlooked this, but now he understood it. The depth of her devotion was impossible to ignore.

His admiration for her only grew. The more he reflected on all she had done for him over the years, the stronger he felt compelled to cherish and protect her.

"She is different," he murmured nostalgically.

Eugen watched him closely, noticing the gleam in his eyes. Nathaniel looked like a teenage boy, thinking about his crush.

He leaned forward slightly and asked with curiosity, "Do you love her?"