Reclaimed By My Ex-husband
Chapter 88: Did I say something wrong?

Chapter 88: Did I say something wrong?

Zara lay on the bed, the blanket pulled up to her chin. Her thoughts were messy, emotions tangled. For so long, she had craved his warmth, his attention, his presence. And finally, he was giving her what she had always wanted.

But why did it feel so unreal?

The Nathaniel she knew had always been distant, reserved, almost unreachable. But now, he was gentle, attentive, like a husband who cared.

’Is this real?’ she wondered. ’Or am I just seeing what I want to see?’

Her heart thudded against her ribs, caught between hope and hesitation. Then she felt the mattress shift behind her. Her body tensed, fingers clutching the blanket tighter.

A moment later, his arm slid around her waist. She stayed still, pretending to sleep.

But Nathaniel knew she wasn’t sleeping. He let out a soft chuckle. "That won’t work. I know you are awake."

Her eyes fluttered open, but she didn’t dare flex a muscle. Every nerve in her body was alert, waiting.

"Zara," he said gently. "Let’s treat tonight as a fresh start. Leave the past behind us and start over."

The sincerity in his voice stirred something deep within her. But she still had a few questions. She slowly turned to face him.

"If you have feelings for someone else, you don’t have to be with me," she said. "I won’t hold you back. We both know this marriage hasn’t been easy. There is no point in forcing it anymore. If your heart is somewhere else, go to her."

She meant every word, even if part of her hoped he’d stay anyway.

Nathaniel’s mood shifted instantly, and his expression darkened. "What are you saying?" His brow furrowed deeply, frustration bleeding into his tone. "I know I didn’t give you enough time in the past. I neglected you. I didn’t give you the attention you deserved. But that doesn’t mean I’ve been involved with someone else."

His features softened the next moment, and so did his voice. "There has only ever been one woman in my life these past five years, and that’s you. Even if we don’t have feelings for each other, something has always held us together. Maybe it’s responsibility, maybe it’s our shared commitment to Zane. But we have spent five years side by side. And as for love..."

He gently brushed her cheek. "I believe it will come naturally if we give ourselves a real chance."

Zara’s heart clenched. She wanted to tell him that she had loved him for years, that she had waited silently for any sign he might feel the same. But she swallowed the words.

It wasn’t the right moment. She needed to see how serious he was about her and what he would do to win her heart. She wanted to know if he truly meant what he said.

Nathaniel leaned in, his lips barely a breath away from hers. Then he kissed her, and the heat they had both been suppressing surged to the surface. The kiss deepened quickly, turning urgent, needy.

He pulled her closer, his hand slipping beneath her nightdress, grazing her skin. "Let’s have a baby," he whispered between the kisses.

The words hit like ice.

Zara froze and stopped kissing him.

Nathaniel felt the shift in her body. He pulled back slightly and looked at her, only to see tears filling her eyes. He felt a gust of wind blow over his head, spreading a wave of chills throughout his body.

’Did I say something wrong?’ he wondered inwardly, confused.

Before he could speak, Zara slipped out of bed.

"Zara," he called, sitting upright.

"I’ll sleep in Zane’s room tonight."

"Wait—"

But she left the room.

Nathaniel sat in stunned silence, scratching his head in confusion. "What just happened?" he muttered under his breath, still trying to understand where he had gone wrong.

Meanwhile, Zara quietly entered Zane’s room and climbed into the bed beside him. She curled up, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes, silently. She placed a trembling hand on her stomach.

"My baby," she whispered. "I’m sorry... Mommy couldn’t protect you. I couldn’t bring you into this world."

She had truly believed she could protect her baby this time, but the terrible kidnapping incident had stolen that chance, taking the baby’s life. Her grief overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t hold back her sobs.

That faint sound broke Zane’s slumber. "Mommy?" He stirred, rubbing his eyes.

Zara quickly wiped her tears. "Sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to wake you," she said apologetically. She forced a small smile, but the tightness in her throat almost choked her. "I just thought I’d sleep here with you tonight."

Zane let out a soft hum. "I like it when you are here."

She smiled faintly and patted his head. "No more talking now. Go to sleep," she rasped.

Within minutes, he fell asleep again. Zara stayed awake, running her fingers through his hair, watching the peaceful rise and fall of his chest. His little face, so calm, dulled the ache in her heart. It was only he who helped her forget about the pain of what she had lost.

Eventually, her exhaustion caught up with her. Her eyelids grew heavy, and at last, sleep came.

On the other hand, Nathaniel found himself restless, the sleep nowhere near him. He came to his study, lit a cigarette, and sank into his chair, the smoke curling around him. Everything had seemed fine. The mood was good. They had been ready to dive into the fire of intimacy. But Zara had pulled back suddenly and left him.

He had genuinely believed the idea of having another child might bring them closer, help her heal. But her reaction had blindsided him.

’Is she still angry with me?’ he wondered, still confused. ’Does she hold me responsible for what happened?’

He took another long drag before stubbing the cigarette out in the ashtray. His mind was a storm of questions he couldn’t answer.

Trying to distract himself, he flipped open his laptop, hoping work would pull him out of his raging thoughts. That had always been his way of coping, burying himself in work to avoid emotional chaos. But tonight, it didn’t work.

Frustrated, he shut the laptop and pressed his fingers to his temples.

He had been with Zara for five years, yet she still felt like a mystery. He couldn’t read her.

Nora, on the other hand, had been easy to understand—bright, expressive, always speaking her mind. She was like an open book. Her emotions were written across her face, and Nathaiel could tell what she had in her mind just by looking into her eyes. But Zara... she was different. She hid everything behind composed smiles, even when she was hurting. She wouldn’t let her emotions show.

Nathaniel leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

"What am I supposed to do with her?"