Reclaimed By My Ex-husband

Zara returned from dropping Zane off at school. Just as she reached for the bedroom door, a voice from inside made her freeze.

"Do you love her?"

Her hand stilled midair. Every beat of her heart drummed against her ribs, wild and eager, desperate to hear Nathaniel's answer. She leaned closer, straining to catch even the faintest sound.

But Nathaniel was silent.

Her lips parted slightly in disbelief. Why wasn't he saying anything? It wasn't a difficult question. Yet he delayed answering it as if he was hesitating. His silence grew unbearable, crushing the fragile hope she had clung to.

Her hand reached for the doorknob, ready to push it open, to face him and demand an answer. But Nathaniel's voice halted her.

"You are here to check on me. But you keep asking questions. Do you know how much my head is hurting?"

His words, full of irritation, struck her like ice water.

Her fingers slipped from the doorknob. She had been foolishly imagining his softened glances, his smiles, his newfound attention meant something—that he was finally seeing her.

But no. It was nothing but her own delusion. Nathaniel's heart remained locked in the past, chained to Nora's memory. There was no place for Zara there.

Her chest tightened until it was hard to breathe. The walls seemed to close in on her. She turned abruptly and rushed down the steps, her eyes stinging. She fled the house, trying to outrun the ache that spread like fire through her chest.

Nathaniel didn't love her. And maybe… he never would.

Inside the room…

"Why are you so grumpy?" Eugen tossed the question casually as he packed his things into his bag. "If you don't love her, just say it. There is no need to glare at me like that."

Straightening, he gave Nathaniel a final glance. "Anyway, take your medicine on time and get proper rest. You'll be fine soon."

He was about to leave when something sparked in his memory. The playful glint returned in his eyes. Turning back, he added, "By the way, Liam is throwing a party tonight. After years, he is back in town and wants to enjoy with the old gang."

A nostalgia crossed his eyes as he imagined how the night would be. "Alcohol, girls—the whole night will be a blast."

Eugen's excitement was unmistakable. But as his gaze shifted to Nathaniel, that grin twisted into a smirk. "With the way you are, you won't be able to show up. Not that it matters—you never enjoy such parties. You stay away from drinks, you run from women, and your wife can't even stand you right now."

Nathaniel's cold glare turned even sharper, enough to cut. The laughter died in Eugen's throat, though the mischievous spark in his eyes refused to dim.

"Don't give me that look," Eugen said dismissively, his tone suddenly turning serious. "It's the truth. You are clinging to the past, to someone who doesn't even exist anymore, while ignoring the ones who actually care about you. Keep this up, and you'll lose everyone. Remember my words."

Nathaniel's patience snapped. He grabbed the pillow and hurled it across the room. Eugen jerked sideways, the pillow whizzing past him.

"I don't want to be part of such parties," Nathaniel growled. "Think whatever you like. Now get lost."

Eugen's playful demeanor cracked for a brief instant. "I know how you are. No one is forcing you to go there. Even Liam hasn't called you, has he?" But almost immediately, his usual mischief resurfaced, a sly smile curling his lips. "Don't worry. I'll come tomorrow, check on you, and give you all the updates."

"You—" Nathaniel snatched another pillow, ready to hurl it across the room.

"Wait, wait…" Eugen quickly raised both hands in defense, laughter bubbling in his throat though he tried to keep a straight face. "Don't get worked up. Anger will only make your headache worse." He started edging toward the door, still grinning.

But before stepping out, he looked back at Nathaniel and dropped a warning. "Don't upset Zara. Start loving her. She is the right one for you. If you accept her wholeheartedly, your life will finally know joy."

Without giving Nathaniel a chance to retort, Eugen hurried out.

The room fell into a heavy stillness once the door closed behind Eugen. Nathaniel sank deeper against the headboard. He exhaled a long, weary sigh, Eugen's words lingering in his mind.

He couldn't deny the truth—Zara had already carved a place in his life. She was more than a companion; she had become his anchor, his safe place, the warmth he instinctively reached for. He had accepted her as his wife, even envisioned a peaceful life with her.

But love? It was still uncertain.

Images of her flitted through his thoughts—her laughter, the way her smile brightened the darkest of his days, the calm her presence brought him. When she was near, he felt whole, complete. But her silence, her withdrawal, shook him to the core. The thought of losing her left him restless, almost frantic.

Still, when he dug into the deepest corners of his heart, another face stared back at him.

Nora.

Her memory was etched into his soul like an unhealed scar, her presence haunting every breath he took. She had been his first and only love, the woman who held his heart even in her absence.

He had promised himself he would move on, to give Zara what she deserved, yet the space Nora once occupied remained untouched.

He let his head fall back, eyes dark with conflict. "Time will tell," he murmured thoughtfully. "Maybe you will become the love of my life… slowly." A bittersweet smile touched his lips.

Zara strode into the office, her clipped steps and stiff posture betraying her agitation. Her face was a mask of icy composure. Anyone could tell she was upset.

"Hey," Bree called her in surprise as she quickly stood from her desk. "Didn't you say you weren't coming? What happened?" She hurried after her friend, worry clouding her features.

Zara didn't even glance back. Without breaking stride, she crossed the room and sank into her chair. "Too much work is left," she said flatly and yanked open the drawer, pulling out her sketchbook. "No need to waste more time."

Bree hesitated, confusion flickering across her face. "But didn't you say Nathaniel wasn't well?" she asked cautiously. "You sounded worried when you called. You said you wanted to take care of him."

Zara faltered. Her hand, stretched toward the pen stand, stilled midair.

A flicker of pain crossed her features. She had planned to stay with him, to take care of him. But the conversation she had overheard still echoed in her chest. Being near him now would only deepen the wound.

She steadied herself quickly, shutting down the storm behind a wall of indifference. Picking up a pencil, she spoke without emotion. "It's just a fever—nothing serious. I've already called the doctor. He'll be fine."

Zara lowered her gaze to the blank page before her. Her hand moved mechanically, the pencil scratching faint lines.