Chapter 160: The regret

Words : 1163 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Zara’s eyes fluttered open, her heart pounding against her ribs. The word "sweetheart" kept ringing in her ears. It was the first time Nathaniel had ever called her that. Did he truly mean it, or had it slipped out without thought? Her mind spun in turmoil. Earlier that morning, he had avoided answering Eugen’s question about whether he loved her. Yet now, here he was, calling her by an endearment that hinted that he had feelings for her. ’Does he actually feel something for me? Has his heart begun to change?’ she wondered restlessly. But another question gnawed at her. If he did love her, why had he hesitated earlier? Was he hiding something from her? The more she tried to make sense of it, the more tangled her thoughts became. ’I don’t know... I shouldn’t think about it anymore.’ She shut her eyes tight, forcing herself to stay still, but no matter how hard she tried, sleep refused to come. The next morning... "Mommy, why didn’t you come home early last night?" Zane complained, his round cheeks puffing out. "I waited for you. I wanted to have dinner with you." Zara’s heart clenched. His words, full of disappointment, pierced her with guilt. Her face fell, painted with embarrassment and remorse. She crouched down to his level, brushing his soft hair back gently. "I’m so sorry, Zane. It won’t happen again. Mommy went out to dine with her friends last night." At once, the shadow on Zane’s face lifted. His limpid eyes brightened. "Oh! You were with your friend," he said, his pout vanishing into a smile. "Did you have fun?" The sudden shift caught Zara off guard. Just a moment ago, he was sulking over her absence. But the instant he learned she had been with her friends, his mood melted into warm acceptance. It was as if he were putting her happiness ahead of his own. It struck her deeply. Zara forced a smile, though it only deepened the ache in her chest. ’He is only six,’ she thought. ’At this age, most children throw tantrums, cry, or demand to be the center of attention. Yet my Zane tries to understand me. He accepts my excuses, even comforts me, as though he is far older than he really is.’ She gathered him into her arms, her heart swelling with both love and an unshakable guilt. "I am sorry, darling," she whispered. "But I promise I’ll come home early and cook dinner for you." Nathaniel halted at the doorway, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he took in the scene before him. He was just about to step inside when his phone vibrated in his pocket. Pulling back, he checked the screen—it was his secretary calling. "Hello." He pressed the phone to his ear, turning back toward the master bedroom. "Sir, I’ve gathered the information," the secretary reported. "It was Mr. Zachary who closed the deal with the client." Nathaniel’s jaw set in a grim line. He had already suspected this, and now the confirmation only fueled his certainty—Zachary had clearly used Riya to steal the project details and claim the deal for himself. "I understand," Nathaniel grunted through his gritted teeth. "I’m coming." "But Sir... are you sure you are all right? Weren’t you running a fever the day before?" "I’m fine," he said curtly. "Set up a meeting with the project heads. I want everyone there at nine sharp." With that, he ended the call and strode into the closet. On the other side, Zane was getting ready for school. "Breakfast first, then off to school," Zara chirped as she stepped out of his room, holding his little hand. But she paused for a moment when she spotted Nathaniel rushing out. ’Is he heading to the office already?’ she wondered, surprised to see him leaving so early. He had just been down with a fever the previous day and should have been resting. Yet, he had already left. She sighed quietly. ’Always his work,’ she thought with exasperation. When she looked back at Zane’s bright face, her smile returned. "Come on, let’s eat." She guided him down the stairs. In the kitchen, she noticed Mrs. Jules bustling around. "Mrs. Jules," Zara called as she moved to the dining area. "Did Nathaniel have anything before leaving?" Mrs. Jules shook her head with a faint sigh. "No, he insisted he had to rush to the office. He didn’t take breakfast. I only managed to hand him a glass of juice." Zara nodded, though her thoughts lingered uneasily. ’What made him leave in such a hurry? Did he even take his medicine?’ She shrugged, shoving the worry out of her mind. ’It’s fine. He must have had an urgent meeting,’ she murmured to herself. She pulled out a chair for Zane and settled him on it before taking the seat beside him. Mrs. Jules appeared carrying a tray of pancakes and a glass of milk. Setting them down on the table, she said warmly, "Potato pancakes—Zane’s favorite. You hardly ate anything last night, so I thought I’d cheer you up this morning." Her smile was warm and inviting. "Thank you, Mrs. Jules," Zane beamed as he dug into the food with delight. Zara’s expression softened with gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered with an apologetic smile. "It’s my responsibility," the housekeeper replied gently. "But madam... sir was terribly anxious about you last night. I’ve never seen him so unsettled before. Even with a fever, he refused to rest. He kept pacing in the hall, waiting for any word about you." Her face clouded with concern as she continued, "I urged him to lie down for a while, but he wouldn’t listen. He didn’t even touch his dinner." "What?" Zara’s heart sank, guilt weighing heavily on her. Because of her careless act, not only Zane but Nathaniel too had suffered. His anger from the previous night suddenly made sense, but what stung her most was learning that he had not eaten anything. "Pack some food," she said at once. "I’ll take it to him on my way to the office." Mrs. Jules smiled in relief. It reminded her of the old days—whenever Nathaniel left the office without eating, Zara would cook for him and have it delivered by the driver. But that thoughtful routine had been absent for some time. Mrs. Jules had quietly noticed the silence—the missing gestures, the small habits that spoke louder than words about the state of Zara and Nathaniel’s marriage. The absence of that simple act of sending him food was a subtle indication of a crack in their bond. Now, seeing it resurface, her heart swelled with comfort. She felt reassured, certain that the shadows of distance between them had started to lift. To her, it was a sign of care quietly mending their broken bond. "Sure, Madam. I’ll pack the food." She hurried back into the kitchen.

Chapter 160: The regret

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