Chapter 161: Cold memory of the past

Words : 1187 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

After dropping Zane off at school, Zara drove straight to Nathaniel’s office. The entire ride was weighed down by tension, Mrs. Jules’s words replaying endlessly in her mind. Guilt and regret prickled at her. How was she supposed to face him now? She decided she would leave his lunch with the secretary. "Yes... that’s better. He doesn’t like being disturbed while he is working." When she reached the top floor, she headed directly toward Nathaniel’s secretary’s desk. Forcing a polite smile, she greeted the woman. The impeccably dressed secretary rose with a warm grin. "Good morning, Madam." "Good morning," Zara replied, placing the lunch box on the desk. "Please give this to Nathaniel. He left in a rush without eating. And..." She dug into her bag and produced a small vial of pills. "This is his medicine. Remind him to take it on time." The secretary hesitated before suggesting gently, "Why don’t you give it to him yourself? His meeting will wrap up shortly. You could wait in his office." Zara shook her head quickly. "No... he wouldn’t like that. He hates being interrupted at work." The secretary gave an uneasy smile, her hesitation palpable. Nathaniel had been in a foul mood ever since Roberto’s accident, and losing a major deal had only worsened it. She still recalled the icy, intimidating look on his face when he stormed into the office earlier. If he discovered that his wife had come all the way to bring him lunch only to leave without meeting him, the fallout could be disastrous, and she didn’t want to be the one caught in the middle. "Please don’t worry about that, Madam," she urged gently. "It’ll be better if you explain his medication to him yourself." Before Zara could protest, the secretary practically pulled her into Nathaniel’s office. "Please, just sit and wait for him." She then quickly slipped out the door. Zara had no choice but to stay. Lowering herself onto the sofa, she tried to steady her thoughts. Her mind was a whirl of nerves and uncertainty. How would Nathaniel react when he saw her here? Her memories pulled her back to another time. Back then, he had just recovered from his stomach issues. Barely discharged from the hospital, he had thrown himself straight into work again. Zara had worried endlessly that the pain would flare up if he skipped meals, so she had rushed to his office carrying a lunchbox. But the secretary had stopped her outside his door, asking her to wait, telling her he had been in an important meeting with a client. Flashback... "Please have a seat here, Madam," the secretary said with a polite smile, gesturing toward the sofa across from her desk. "You can see him once the meeting his ended." Zara sat down, glancing around nervously. It was her first time stepping into his office, and the grandeur of the place felt overwhelming. Her fingers crossed and uncrossed as she glanced at the impeccably dressed secretary, so polished and elegant that Zara couldn’t help but feel a pang of self-consciousness. But more than anything, she was anxious about Nathaniel’s reaction. After a short while, the door opened. A man in a black suit stepped out, with Nathaniel right behind him. Zara’s body tensed the moment their eyes met. She forced a small smile and rose from her seat, but Nathaniel didn’t return her smile. Instead, he looked away, his attention fixed on the man at his side. "Thank you, Mr. Corby. We look forward to working with you," Nathaniel said, shaking the man’s hand with a cordial smile. It was the first time Zara had seen him smile since their marriage. He looked devastatingly handsome, and for a fleeting moment, her mind drifted back to the day she first noticed him on the basketball court in school. She wished she could always see that warmth on his face. But with her, he remained distant, hard, and indifferent. She stood there, silently hoping he might acknowledge her, call her over, anything. But after bidding Mr. Corby goodbye, Nathaniel simply strode back into his office without so much as a glance in her direction. Heat rushed to Zara’s cheeks, embarrassment twisting her heart painfully. Unsure whether she should follow him or leave quietly, she turned toward the secretary. "Please wait here, Madam. He’ll call you," the secretary assured her. Zara nodded and waited for him to give her permission to enter his office. The phone on the desk rang. The woman picked it up swiftly. "Hello... yes, sir. Okay, I’ll send her in right away." Putting the receiver down, she looked at Zara. "Madam, you may go in now." Zara smiled at her faintly before stepping into the office, but her heart sank the instant she met the ice in Nathaniel’s eyes. "What are you doing here?" His voice was frigid, making her spine tremble. "I..." Zara lowered her gaze to the lunchbox in her hand. "You left in a hurry. I thought I’d bring you lunch. And your medicine..." She moved a step closer. "You don’t need to concern yourself with that," Nathaniel cut her off, his tone clipped and dismissive. Returning his focus to the file in front of him, he added, "There are servants at home for that." Zara froze mid-step, her fingers tightening around the lunchbox. "Don’t come here again," he said flatly. "I don’t like being interrupted at work." End of flashback... Those harsh words still lingered in her ears, reminding her how unwelcome she had been in his office back then. Since that day, Zara had never stepped into his workplace again, always sending his lunch through the driver. But today was different. She had come in person, intending to drop the food and leave quickly, avoiding an encounter. Now, seated in his office, nerves twisted inside her, the memory of his cold stare refusing to fade. Would he react the same way again? Her hands fidgeted in her lap, betraying her unease. The sudden creak of the door snapped her out of her thoughts. Zara’s head turned, and she saw him walking in. Their eyes met, and her body went rigid, her fingers curling tightly. "Zara..." He was visibly surprised. He hadn’t expected her. It had always been the driver who delivered his meals, yet today, she came there herself. His heartbeat kicked up sharply. But Zara misread his expression, mistaking his surprise for the same cold disapproval she remembered all too well. Rising to her feet quickly, she explained, "I didn’t mean to interrupt you. You haven’t eaten since last night. Don’t stay empty stomach for so long. Your stomach issue will resurface. And you still need your medicine." She nodded to the lunchbox on the table. "Mrs. Jules made pancakes. I brought some for you. Eat them while they are still warm." She met his gaze once more. "And don’t forget the medicine." With that, she started past him toward the door. But before she could take more than a step, his hand reached out swiftly, closing around her arm and stopping her in place. "Stay..."

Chapter 161: Cold memory of the past

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