Reclaimed By My Ex-husband

Zara stopped next to Nathaniel, startled by the sudden tension that had overtaken him. She followed his gaze and spotted Zachary standing a few feet away, his arm draped around a woman. From where they stood, Zachary's broad frame blocked the woman's face entirely, and only the hem of her skirt was visible.

She glanced up at Nathaniel and noticed the way his eyes had narrowed, his jaw tensing.

"What's wrong?" she asked quietly, slipping her fingers into his.

Nathaniel didn't take his eyes off Zachary and that mysterious woman. "I thought I heard Riya's voice," he muttered, doubt crossing his face.

"Riya? Here?" Zara's eyes returned to the woman Zachary was holding. Something caught her attention.

The skirt the woman was wearing was the same one Riya had on earlier. Could that woman be Riya?

The thought felt absurd to Zara. She didn't even want to entertain the possibility of something inappropriate between Zachary and Riya.

'No, that's impossible,' she told herself firmly, quickly brushing the idea aside.

"No," she said after a beat. "If it were Riya, she would have come to you first. You probably misheard."

But Nathaniel wasn't convinced. The suspicion refused to die in his heart. That voice was too familiar to ignore. Deep down, he was convinced it was Riya. The memory of her leaving the hotel with Zachary flashed in his mind again, reinforcing the unsettling thought that the woman with Zachary could very well be her.

Still locked in thought, he stepped forward slowly, needing to see for himself who Zachary was holding so closely.

Riya froze in Zachary's embrace, her face instinctively burying into his chest to shield herself from Nathaniel's view.

Panic gripped her.

She hadn't expected Nathaniel and Zara to be there. Just moments ago, she had stepped into the hallway, casually calling out to Zachary, only to spot the couple walking away. Thankfully, she had reacted in time, ducking into Zachary's arms just as Nathaniel turned around.

Zachary, meanwhile, remained unbothered, casually glancing over his shoulder. "You haven't left yet?" he asked coolly, addressing Nathaniel.

Nathaniel's expression pinched as he flicked his gaze toward the woman clinging to Zachary. "Who is she?" he asked with curiosity. His gut told him it was Riya, but he needed to confirm it.

Zachary gave a short, derisive chuckle. "Seems like you are very eager to know about the women in my life," he said smugly. "She is my new girlfriend. A bit shy. Don't tell me you are interested in her?"

Nathaniel bristled at the insinuation. "Certainly not," he snapped, clearly irritated.

"Oh?" Zachary smirked. "Then why the sudden interest?" He looked down at Riya, taking pleasure in her visible distress. "If you are so curious about her, join us for a drink. You can meet her yourself."

Riya paled further. She tilted her head up toward Zachary, fear clawing up her throat. 'Please, don't,' she mouthed silently, pleading with him not to reveal her identity.

But Zachary stared back at her with a daring gaze, silently telling her he wouldn't back down. He was clearly ready to let the truth come out, no matter the consequences.

Nathaniel scoffed. "I have no interest in any woman you are involved with," he bit out coldly, then turned sharply, taking Zara's hand and striding away.

Riya let out a shaky breath the moment Nathaniel disappeared from view. Relief washed over her. She had narrowly escaped being discovered. But the reprieve was short-lived.

Zachary's fingers slid beneath her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "You are that scared of being seen with me?" he asked coldly, seemingly displeased. "Why? Still hoping to be with Nathaniel?"

"No… It's not like that," she tried to explain, terrified under his burning glare.

But Zachary wasn't in the mood to listen. His gaze grew darker, thunderclouds swirling in his expression.

"You are mine now," he growled. "If you think of another man, I swear I'll kill you."

Riya shook her head as she reached out to hold his hand, explaining urgently, "I'm not thinking about Nathaniel. I was only worried about what Mom and Dad would say if they found out I had slept with you, my uncle."

"I'm not your uncle," he snapped, his hand suddenly tightening around her throat.

"Please… try to understand," she begged. "This would destroy them. I'm not ready to face that. How am I supposed to explain this? That I'm your secret lover? A sex partner? What am I to you?"

He gave no answer. His grip on her throat remained firm and possessive.

She swallowed hard, blinking through the tears. "If this gets out, it'll ruin me. They'll cut ties with me. My future, my dreams, everything I've built with the Grants—it'll all disappear. I can't lose that. I won't survive it."

The desperation in her tone was unmistakable.

"I can give you everything the Grants have given you," Zachary said. "I'm not short on money. I can even push your career forward."

There was a fire in his eyes. He fully believed the Grant family fortune would be his one day. He had carefully crafted a plan to bring them down, and Riya played a key role in it. Letting her go wasn't an option.

"Why are you still clinging to them? What is it about that family that still matters to you?"

For the first time, Riya caught a glimpse of desperation in his usually emotionless eyes. It stunned her and made her wonder if he saw her as more than just a convenient fling. A sly thought began to form in her mind.

Zachary was indeed dangerous, but he was also powerful, wealthy, and well-connected. And most importantly, he hated the Grant family with a passion. If she couldn't win Nathaniel, maybe she could turn Zachary's obsession into something more. If she played her cards right, she wouldn't need to depend on the Grants forever.

Leaning in, she trailed her fingers slowly up his chest, her lips curling into a seductive smile. "Have you fallen in love with me?" she purred. "Are you serious about me… about us?"

Zachary stared at her, momentarily thrown off.

Love?

The word felt foreign, almost laughable. Feelings had no place in his world.

"I don't do love," he said flatly, devoid of emotion. "But if you stay loyal to me, I'll protect you. I'll give you everything you want."

With that, he crushed his lips against hers, claiming her not out of affection, but to remind her she belonged to him now.