After breakfast, the trio set out. Riya slid behind the wheel while Zane was safely buckled into the back seat. Zara leaned over to adjust his seatbelt, brushing his hair gently with a soft smile.
"I’ll take you out when I co back from work," she whispered, planting a kiss on his forehead before climbing into the passenger seat.
"Shall we go now?" Riya asked, her hands already gripping the steering wheel.
"Yes, let’s go," Zara replied with a calm smile.
Riya shot her a sideways glance, frowning slightly. Just a little while ago, Zara had been visibly tense, flustered—even defensive. But now, she looked composed, cheerful. That shift didn’t sit right with Riya.
’What happened in those few minutes? What changed?’ The ease in Zara’s deanor made her suspicious.
As the car started moving, Zane piped up from the back. "Mommy, sumr break is coming. Where are we going this ti? You said last year that Daddy might take us to the hill station. Are you still going to ask him?"
Zara turned to respond, but before she could speak, Riya let out a short, sarcastic laugh.
"Oh, Zane." She glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Have you ever seen your daddy take a vacation? He is always buried in work. He didn’t even call your mommy once since he left. Co on, Zara," she added with a smug smirk, "tell us honestly—has Nathaniel called you?"
"Why are you so obsessed with my marriage, Riya?" Zara shot back. "Whether he calls or not, it’s none of your business. He is on an important business trip. And if you are so concerned, I’ll call him right now. You can hear for yourself how busy he is."
Zara dialed Nathaniel’s number with quiet confidence, fully expecting him to answer with his usual distant tone, ntion he was tied up in a eting, and promise to call her back later. That was the standard response she had always received whenever he was away for work. Still, it would be more than enough to shut Riya up.
The phone rang a few tis before the call connected. She tapped the speaker icon, letting the sound fill the car.
"Hello..." Nathaniel’s voice ca through, but it wasn’t cold and distant. It was gentle, warm, the complete opposite of what she had braced for.
"Sorry to disturb you," Zara said quickly, startled by his tone. "I hope I’m not bothering you. I just wanted to check in."
"You miss ?" he asked, his voice low and hoarse.
Zara froze, taken aback.
What...? That wasn’t like him at all.
Stunned, she quickly switched off the speaker, pressing it close to her ear, acutely aware of Riya’s presence next to her.
"I..." she faltered, thrown off by the unexpected warmth. "Just focus on your work. Everything is fine here. Zane is doing well."
"And you?" he asked, quietly.
"?" Her pulse jumped.
Nathaniel had never asked about her, never cared how she was doing. What had changed?
"I-I’m fine," she stamred, struggling to steady her voice. "I won’t take more of your ti. I’ll hang up now."
But he didn’t let her disconnect the call yet. "How is your leg?" he asked quickly, as though trying to keep her on the line a little longer.
"My leg?" Zara blinked, surprised again. Her gaze dropped instinctively to her leg. "It’s better. I can walk without support now."
"That’s good to hear," he said, a trace of relief in his voice. "I’ll be back soon. Wait for ."
Her heart leaped to her mouth again. She barely whispered, "I—I’m hanging up now." Her fingers trembled slightly as she ended the call.
She stared at the screen, heat rushing to her face. ’Was he joking? Or was he... serious?’
Whatever it was, her heart was thudding uncontrollably, refusing to calm.
Behind the wheel, Riya fud in silence. Her grip tightened on the steering wheel as Nathaniel’s gentle voice echoed in her mind.
’Since when does he talk to Zara like that? Weren’t they heading for a divorce? When had everything shifted?’
She glanced sideways at Zara, who sat with flushed cheeks and a dazed expression as if the call had left her glowing. The sight made Riya’s blood boil.
Without warning, she slamd her foot on the brake.
Zara jerked forward with the sudden jolt, then snapped back against the seat. Her heart pounded wildly, and her hand instinctively flew to her stomach in a protective reflex.
"Zane, are you okay?" she asked quickly, twisting around in her seat.
"I’m okay, Mommy," Zane said, his voice shaky and his face pale from the shock.
The fear in his eyes sank like a stone in Zara’s stomach, quickly twisting into anger. She turned to Riya. "What the hell was that? There is a child in the car. Can’t you drive carefully? Don’t you know how to drive?"
Riya’s eyes flicked down to Zara’s hand, still resting protectively on her belly. ’So she is pregnant,’ Riya thought, her suspicion now burning hotter than ever.
"I do know how to drive," Riya shot back coolly. "But soone ran into the road. What was I supposed to do—hit him? I had no choice."
Zara blinked, thrown off. She had been too distracted to notice whether Riya was telling the truth. Was it real? Or just an excuse?
"It’s fine," she muttered, waving it off. "Just drive slower."
She turned back to Zane and gave him a reassuring smile. "Hang in there, honey. We’ll be at school soon."
Riya resud driving, but her mind was spinning. The thought of Zara and Nathaniel growing closer unsettled and infuriated her. And the possibility of Zara carrying Nathaniel’s child felt like a slap in the face.
’I have to do sothing, she told herself. I need to push them further apart.’
Thousands of miles away, Nathaniel sat at his desk, unable to stay still. His heart beat faster than usual, a restless energy buzzing through him.
Zara had called him just to check on him. It was such a small gesture, yet it stirred sothing in him he hadn’t felt in a long ti.
Where once her ssages and calls had irritated him in the past, this one left him smiling, light-headed even. He didn’t want to stay away a mont longer. He wanted to go ho.
Just then, Roberto entered the room, a thick folder in hand. He placed it on the table. "These are all the docunts related to the deal. Once you give the green light, it’ll be finalized at tomorrow evening’s eting."
Nathaniel pulled the folder toward him. "Move the eting to the morning," he said firmly. "I want to fly ho as soon as it’s done."
Roberto blinked. "But..." he hesitated, glancing at the weighty file. "You haven’t even reviewed the client’s terms yet. And it’s already late. Don’t you need to rest?"
Nathaniel shook his head, determination flashing in his eyes. "I’ll go through everything tonight. I don’t want to waste another day."
Roberto scratched the back of his head, puzzled. Nathaniel was never the impulsive type, always thodical, always composed. Now, he looked like a man in a rush for sothing more than business.
Still, Roberto didn’t question him. "Alright. I’ll be right outside if you need ," he said quietly, backing out of the room.
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