Reclaimed By My Ex-husband

Outside the house…

Zara was still busy on the phone. "Is there any chance of his survival?"

"I can't say anything." A sigh broke through. "But I still hope he escaped before the impact. Okay, I have to go now. Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I'll return once everything is settled here."

"Okay… Take care of yourself," Zara whispered before the line went dead.

Slowly, she lowered the phone from her ear, her face pale, her mind reeling from the devastating news. "How did this happen?"

She shook herself slightly, forcing her steps forward. Pushing open the toy house door, she spotted Zane inside, kneeling on the carpet and playing with his blocks. But Riya was nowhere in sight.

"Where is she?" Zara muttered under her breath. "Did she leave already?"

Curiosity pushing her, she stepped back into the house, her eyes scanning the hallway. Then she heard her voice coming from the kitchen. She turned and spotted her standing near Mrs. Jules.

When she noticed Zara approaching, she immediately straightened, stepping away from the kitchen with a pleasant smile.

"I thought I should bring some fresh juice for Zane," Riya said sweetly. "Would you like some too?"

Riya felt triumphant—she had managed to copy the files without being discovered and raising a single suspicion. But at the time of stepping out of the study, Mrs. Jules had spotted her. To divert any suspicion, she had quickly come up with an excuse and then asked her to prepare some fresh orange juice.

They had barely entered the kitchen when Zara walked in.

Riya smiled sweetly, masking her cunningness behind that picture of innocence. Zara, however, stood stiff, not returning the smile. Her sharp gaze was ready to cut anyone.

"I am the hostess of this house," Zara said coldly. "If I want something, I'll take it myself or ask Mrs. Jules to bring it for me. Why should I trouble you?"

The sharpness in her tone betrayed her irritation.

Riya's smile faltered. For a moment, the mask slipped, but she quickly replaced it with a pitiful look. "I already asked Mrs. Jules to make the juice. That's why I asked if you wanted some too. Don't feel offended."

Fake tears started collecting in her eyes. "I think you are still angry with me. Since my presence bothers you so much, I'll just leave."

She turned abruptly and stormed out.

But the moment she slid into her car, the act dissolved. She wiped the tears off her cheeks, her lips curving into a sly smirk. Her purpose had been achieved—there was no longer any reason to stay.

With a victorious grin, she drew the pen drive from her bag and held it up, her pulse still racing from the thrill of what she had just pulled off.

"With this, Zachary will get exactly what he wants… and Nathaniel will finally taste defeat. Oh, he'll be furious."

She let out a short, mocking snort. "And then, as always, he'll bury himself in work. He will be too busy to give time to Zara."

Her smirk widened. "And she'll believe he is just like before and doesn't care about her. I'll have enough time to sour their marriage."

She leaned back into the seat, draping one arm lazily over the wheel. "Nathaniel, you can't save this marriage, no matter how hard you try. Her lover, Liam, is back in the picture."

Her eyes glittered with cunningness. "I can't wait to see your face when you realize your so-called best friend has been harboring a crush on your wife."

Her thumb hovered briefly over her phone before she pressed Zachary's number. The call connected almost instantly.

"I got what you wanted," she said proudly. "Where should I bring it?"

"Come to my penthouse," came Zachary's crisp reply.

"Alright."

Shoving the pen drive securely into her bag, she slid the gear into drive. The smirk never left her face as she sped off.

The elevator doors slid open, and Riya stepped into Zachary's penthouse, the faint scent of expensive whiskey lingering in the air.

Zachary sat on the sofa, a file balanced in one hand. He flicked his gaze at her briefly before resuming his inspection of the papers.

"Take your seat," he said coolly, his voice devoid of warmth.

Riya moved closer, perching gracefully beside him. She put the pen drive on the central table. "Check it. I believe you'll find more than you need."

Zachary put the file aside and picked up the pen drive, turning it between his fingers before plugging it into his sleek laptop. His concentration sharpened as he scanned through the documents.

File after file unfolded before him, each carrying the vital information. It was more than he had anticipated.

A slow, calculated smile crept across his lips. "Well done," he murmured.

Riya's heart leapt at the sight. That smile was like a prize. Her chest swelled with pride. To please Zachary was not easy, and today she had succeeded.

"I did my job," she said eagerly. "Now you have to help me."

Zachary finally shifted his gaze to her, a flicker of amusement dancing within his dark eyes. He returned his attention to the laptop screen. With this information, he could outmaneuver Nathaniel and draft a proposal that would secure him the project with ease.

He felt utterly satisfied. Truthfully, he hadn't expected Riya to succeed. She had exceeded his expectations, and that made her valuable. This was only the start—having her at his side meant he could effortlessly strip Nathaniel of every future deal.

"As long as you stay obediently with me, you have nothing to fear," he said in a measured tone. "I'll help you."

~~~~~~~~~

When Nathaniel finally got home, night had already fallen. He sank into the sofa, his face etched with fatigue.

"Mrs. Jules, water please," he murmured, closing his eyes as he dropped his head on the back of the sofa.

"Nathaniel, water," came Zara's soft voice.

His eyes snapped open, and surprise flickered in them as he found Zara standing close, with the glass of water in her hand.

"You?" He sat up straighter, his brows furrowing. "Why did you bring it? Where is Mrs. Jules?"

"She went out to run some errands," Zara explained gently. "Here. Drink some water."

Accepting it, he drained the glass in one go. Setting it aside, he exhaled deeply.

Zara lowered herself onto the sofa beside him. Her eyes lingered on his face. Questions about Roberto swirled in her mind, but noticing his unsettled state, she couldn't bring herself to voice them. Instead, she stayed quiet, patiently waiting for him to speak first.

"It's been… a long day," Nathaniel breathed. "I didn't expect this…" His words broke apart. "I thought he might have escaped. I wanted to believe he was still alive. But…"

He couldn't finish, but Zara already understood the unspoken words. Her hand instinctively touched her chest. The truth was cruel and undeniable, leaving grief to hang unspoken between them.