Reclaimed By My Ex-husband

At the hotel…

Nathaniel and Wade sat watching the surveillance footage.

"Show the video from the lobby outside the lounge," Wade instructed the security staff. He glanced at Nathaniel. "I'm certain the camera there has captured him."

The guard shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, sir, but the camera in that area isn't working."

"What?" Nathaniel snapped with disbelief. "Such a luxurious hotel, and you can't even maintain proper surveillance?" He jumped to his feet, his face contorting in rage, ready to lash out.

"Please, Mr. Grant, calm down," Wade said quickly, grabbing his arm to hold him back. "Let me handle this."

Nathaniel pulled free with a sharp shrug, fury etched across his face as he turned aside, resting his hands on his hips.

Wade focused back on the guard. "Not every camera is broken, right? Pull up the footage outside the banquet hall and the hallway leading to the exit. The man couldn't have vanished into thin air. He must have walked out."

The guard nodded and switched the feed. Guests in tailored suits and glamorous gowns could be seen moving in and out of the banquet hall.

Nathaniel's sharp eyes zeroed in on the screen, narrowing as he studied each face.

"Keep it rolling," Wade urged. "Fast forward."

The guard complied.

"Slow down here," Wade said urgently, leaning in closer. His pulse quickened as he spotted himself exiting the hall. This was the exact moment the stranger had approached him.

And then, the figure appeared on the screen.

"That's him," Wade cried, jabbing his finger at the monitor.

Nathaniel's pulse thundered in his ears as he leaned toward the monitor. But the figure on-screen had his back to the camera, face carefully hidden.

"That bastard," Nathaniel growled, his jaw tightening. "He deliberately dodged the camera."

Wade refused to give up. "Check another angle. There are cameras everywhere—one of them must have caught him properly."

"The reception area might have something," the guard offered. "If not, we'll check the gate and the parking lot."

"Then do it. Now," Wade said, tapping the desk impatiently.

The footage switched, and for a fleeting instant, the man's face appeared as he hurried through the reception.

"There—pause it," Wade shouted. The guard froze the frame.

The stranger's face filled the screen.

"Yes, that's him," Wade declared triumphantly. "Mr. Grant, look carefully—this is the man who told me to wait in the lounge, the same one who brought your—"

He stopped abruptly. Nathaniel's face had gone utterly still, his silence more frightening than fury. The fire in his eyes seemed ready to burn anything on its way. The way fists curled tightly – it seemed as if he could crush the man's throat through the screen.

Wade could almost feel the punch Nathaniel had delivered to him last night. He instinctively touched his broken nose.

'Jaxon,' Nathaniel muttered in his mind.

After all this time, the snake had slithered back, daring to hurt Zara again.

A violent storm surged inside Nathaniel. His entire body ached to hunt the man down, to break him piece by piece.

'You never learn, do you?' Nathaniel thought coldly. 'This time, I'll bury you myself.'

His eyes gleamed with lethal resolve as he spun on his heel and stormed out of the room.

"Mr. Grant," Wade called after him, quickening his steps. "Where are you going?"

But Nathaniel didn't even glance back.

Breathless, Wade slowed, watching as Nathaniel vanished from view. His stomach twisted with unease.

'Why did he leave without saying anything? What is he planning? Has he really decided to forgive me? Or will he still come after me?'

A storm of unanswered questions spun in his head, leaving him on edge.

Nathaniel slid into the car, gripping the steering wheel tightly. The thought of Jaxon drugging Zara and throwing her to another man to defile her churned his chest with bitter rage.

Such depravity. Nathaniel could hardly believe Jaxon had stooped so low.

"Jaxon," he hissed through clenched teeth. "Zara is your own sister. How could you even conceive of this? You are no human. Don't blame me for being ruthless."

Pulling out his phone, he quickly dialed a number. The call dragged on before finally connecting.

"Why are you calling me? I told you not to reach out. Have you already forgotten?" Kelvin's sharp voice lashed down the line, his irritation clear in every word.

"I haven't forgotten," Nathaniel answered steadily, "but I need to see you."

"Nathaniel," Kelvin muttered, displeasure thick in his tone. "You'll drag me straight into trouble. Forget it. Fine…we'll meet, but not today. I'll contact you myself."

"Wait," Nathaniel cut in urgently, almost desperately. "It has to be today. This is about Zara's safety. Kelvin, if I wasn't at my breaking point, I wouldn't be calling you like this."

Silence hung heavy on the other end before Kelvin finally spoke in a grave tone. "I'll send you an address."

Only then did Nathaniel exhale, relief breaking through the storm inside him. "Thank you."

Later that evening…

Nathaniel kept waiting for Kelvin's message, but the whole day passed, and there was still nothing. The office building had emptied as employees left for the night. Yet Nathaniel stayed behind, glued to his chair, his eyes flicking to his phone again and again.

'Why hasn't he reached out yet? Should I call him?'

After a moment of indecision, he dialed Kelvin's number, only to find the phone switched off.

"Damn it…" Nathaniel slammed his fist onto the desk. "This man is driving me insane."

Frustration knotted inside him, leaving him restless and powerless. At that moment, he felt the sharp absence of Roberto more than ever.

Where could he ever find another man so dependable?

Rubbing his brow, he leaned forward with his elbow braced against the table.

Ring—ring—ring.

He jolted upright at the sound of the shrill ringing of his phone. He thought it was Kelvin. But when he glanced at the screen, Zara's name appeared.

His breath left him in a sigh. Forcing down the tension and irritation, he answered the call. "Hello."

"The dinner's ready," Zara's gentle voice came through. "I was wondering if you are coming back."

Nathaniel froze.

She hadn't checked on him like this these days. But tonight, she had called him—just as she once did before.

In an instant, all the frustration melted away. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

"I'm on my way," he said softly.

Nathaniel rose the moment the call ended and strode out of the office, eager to see her, to be with her. The elevator carried him down to the basement parking. He quickly slid behind the wheel and sped off, his mind alive with anticipation.

The thought of sharing a quiet moment with Zara and Zane stirred an excited warmth inside him. 'Just wait a little longer,' he told himself. 'I'm coming.'

But as he rounded a corner, a bicycle suddenly swerved into his path. Nathaniel's eyes flew wide in shock. He slammed the brakes hard, but the rider toppled over.

He froze in place, his knuckles whitening around the steering wheel. 'Did I just kill him?' Dread twisted in his chest.