Reclaimed By My Ex-husband-Chapter 264: The new partnership

Chapter 264: The new partnership
Zachary’s eyes blazed with fury as he stared at the empty space where the signature should have been. The realization that Nathaniel had played him hit him hard.
"That bastard," he hissed under his breath, crushing the documents into a tight ball. "He escaped again."
It wasn’t the only thing that irked him. The thought that the Lawsons had also tricked him drove her to the edge.
The veins on the back of his hands bulged as he clenched his fists. "You think this little trick will save you, Nathaniel? You are wrong. This is just the beginning. You’ll be forced to kneel before me soon enough."
His jaw tightened with rage, eyes glinting with cold malice. "And as for the Lawsons... they’ll regret ever crossing me."
He snatched up his phone and dialed a number. "Set up a meeting with Rowan Lawson," he ordered sharply. "Tell him I’ve got a gift for him."
A few hours later —
Zachary arrived at an exclusive club, striding straight to the private suite he had reserved. He expected to see Rowan waiting inside, but instead, another figure occupied the seat.
"You?" Zachary’s eyes narrowed.
Liam stood, buttoning his jacket. "Yes, it’s me. Liam Lawson, president of the Lawson Group. You wanted to meet."
For a moment, Zachary studied him intently. Behind Liam’s calm demeanor, he caught a flicker of cunning intelligence. This man wasn’t like his father—he was sharper, more dangerous.
"I thought your father would show up," Zachary said with a dry smirk, taking his seat.
"My father has retired," Liam replied evenly. "I handle all company matters now. Why? Do you have a problem with that?"
Zachary gave a low chuckle. "Not at all. Your father and I had a long-standing partnership. I assume he has briefed you on everything?"
Liam’s expression didn’t waver. "I know enough."
"Good," Zachary leaned back in his chair. "Then let’s move forward. We can work together. Our collaboration will benefit both of us."
"Collaboration only works when both sides stand on equal ground," Liam said coldly. "But when one side resorts to threats and blackmail, it stops being collaboration. It’s doomed to collapse. In this deal, you are the only one benefiting. As the new president of Lawson Group, I’m ending this partnership."
Zachary’s face darkened. He had guessed that Liam wouldn’t be easy to deal with, and now, he could see it.
Rowan had always bowed his head in submission, never daring to defy him. But Liam — he was nothing like his father. He met Zachary’s gaze fearlessly, his tone unyielding, as if he feared no one.
It was both infuriating and intriguing. Zachary relished dealing with stubborn men, the kind he could slowly crush, strip of their pride, and make beg for mercy.
Liam was young, impulsive, and reckless — much like Nathaniel. Watching him fall to his knees would be entertaining.
"You do realize there will be consequences," Zachary said with a smug smile. "I have your father’s filthy secrets. And let’s not forget about your company’s confidential data."
Liam’s lips lifted in a knowing smirk. "You might have some dirty secrets about us, but I’ve got some on you too — about your secret affairs, your marriage, and..."
Zachary’s expression hardened. "What are you talking about?"
"Your little secret isn’t much of a secret anymore." Liam unlocked his phone, scrolled down the screen until he found a picture of Zachary and Riya kissing inside a car. He then turned the screen toward him.
Zachary’s frown deepened as his gaze locked on the photograph.
"I have more," Liam said coolly. "And you know exactly what kind of damage these could do if they went public."
A muscle vein pulsed on Zachary’s forehead. Until now, he had barely paid attention to Liam as his entire focus was on Nathaniel. Initially, he had not considered the Lawsons a real threat. But he had clearly underestimated him — Liam was far sharper, far more cunning than he had realized.
"What do you want?" Zachary asked through gritted teeth.
"I’m not planning to expose your secrets," Liam replied evenly. "If I wanted that, I’d have done it long ago. I’ve kept quiet all this time, even didn’t break up with Riya despite knowing everything."
Zachary’s expression grew thoughtful. He couldn’t deny that Liam had a point. If the man truly meant to harm him, he would’ve already told Nathaniel and ended things with Riya. So what was his real motive?
"I’m not here to create trouble or end our deal," Liam continued with a calculated tone. "All I want is for you to hand over the confidential file and destroy my father’s videos. Once that’s done, I’ll erase everything I have on you. Your secrets will remain safe."
Zachary studied Liam carefully. "Why?" He cocked his head. "Nathaniel is your friend, and I’m his enemy. Why would you want to side with me?"
"Nathaniel isn’t my friend anymore," Liam said sharply, bitterness flashing in his eyes. "I want to see him fall just as much as you do. The enemy of my enemy is my ally. So let’s work together against him."
Though Liam’s tone carried conviction, Zachary wasn’t convinced yet. "You two were once inseparable," he said slowly. "What happened between you to turn that friendship into hatred?"
"He once was my buddy, my best friend — or at least I thought so," Liam muttered. "I trusted him and confided in him about the woman I loved. I expected him to help me win her. Instead, he blocked me, saying I wasn’t right for her."
His fists shook on the table.
Zachary watched him and, for the first time, he saw the genuine hatred in Liam’s eyes toward Nathaniel. It was enough to make him consider Liam a useful ally.
"I always believed I’d marry her once I was successful in my career," Liam went on. "But he married her first. Because of him, I never had the chance to tell her how I felt. I want him to pay. I want to take the woman from him and make him feel the same pain I felt."
"So you want revenge," Zachary nodded, intrigued as he remembered Zara’s photo tucked in Liam’s wallet.
"Yes," Liam admitted. "I want him to writhe with helplessness and jealousy when he sees me with her. Zara should have been mine — my wife, but he stole that chance. Now I’ll take her and make him burn."
The last sliver of doubt in Zachary’s mind melted away. Liam’s resolve to ruin Nathaniel’s marriage was unmistakable.
Zachary had noticed Nathaniel’s growing feelings for Zara, and losing her now, amid his family’s turmoil, would utterly destroy him.
Liam was exactly the tool that could break Nathaniel completely.
"Alright — we’ll work together," Zachary agreed. "To solidify this partnership, I’ll hand over the company’s confidential files and destroy your father’s videos. I expect the same from you."
"I will," Liam answered firmly.
They clasped hands, sealing the agreement.
~~~~~~~~~
At the hospital...
The doctor scanned the blood test results and shook his head. "There is no trace of any toxic substance in her system," he said. "It seems you were mistaken."
Nathaniel’s brows furrowed. He had been certain something would show up. But the result was shocking. "Are you sure?" he demanded. "Run the tests again."
"We already did twice," the doctor replied firmly. "The result is the same. There is no poison or chemical in her blood. Her coma is the result of extreme stress and psychological trauma."
"That’s impossible," Nathaniel muttered, disbelief flashing in his eyes. He vividly remembered the recording—Riya telling the nurse to give Gracie something. She had even admitted to it herself. How could the s show nothing?
His mind raced. Then something clicked in his mind. He recalled Riya’s warning to the nurse to use only a tiny dose to avoid detection.
Nathaniel realized why no traces were found.
"That witch," he hissed through clenched teeth. Without knowing what kind of drug Riya had used, he couldn’t even begin to find an antidote for his mother.
He stormed out of the doctor’s office, phone pressed against his ear. "Where are you?" he demanded as soon as the call connected. "We need to talk."
Riya quirked her lips into a malicious grin. She had been expecting this. Finally, the most awaited moment had come. She would make sure Nathaniel would kneel and apologize to her.
"Let’s meet at your place. I’ll be waiting for you."
She ended the call, the smile lingering on her face. "This time, you will fulfil all my demands." She started the engine and pulled the car away from the curb.
Nathaniel didn’t take long to reach the villa. When he burst inside, Riya was already lounging on the sofa, composed and cool, a glass of wine in hand.
"Uh, you are quick. Seems like you can’t wait to see me."
"Don’t play games!" Nathaniel snapped. He lunged forward, ripped the glass from her fingers, and flung it aside; the wine fanned across the carpet. He hauled her to her feet by the arm and demanded, "What did you give Mom? Tell me."
He pulled her up by her arm and demanded, "What kind of drug did you give to Mom? Answer me."
Riya’s face turned icy. She glanced at his hand gripping her arm and asked coldly, "Still behaving like this when you need me? Do you want to cure your mother—or let her die?"