Reclaimed By My Ex-husband-Chapter 296: Liam likes you.

Chapter 296: Liam likes you.
Nathaniel felt as though his heart had stopped beating. All that remained was a sharp, searing pain tearing through his chest. "Do you really despise me that much?" he whispered, something within him shattering.
"If you truly care about me, don’t let me see you again," Zara said coldly, even as tears filled her own eyes.
His world collapsed in that instant. He had never imagined that a single choice could destroy his happy life completely. "Zara..."
"Didn’t you say you’d do anything to make me feel better?" she interrupted, leaving him no room to speak. "So why are you hesitating now?"
His eyes burned, the tears stinging like fire. He couldn’t bring himself to argue. Liam’s words echoed in his mind—her happiness had to come first, even if it tore him apart.
Zara’s condition was still unstable, and her pregnancy remained delicate. Any emotional shock could trigger another miscarriage, and if that happened, he would lose her forever. The fear gripped him tightly, forcing him to back down.
"Alright," he said hoarsely. "If this is what you want, I’ll stay away until you ask for me. I promise you won’t have to see me."
He stood and walked out.
The moment the door shut, Zara’s strength gave way. Her shoulders sagged as sobs wracked her body. She had thought that punishing him like this would ease the ache in her heart. Instead, the pain only deepened.
"Zara..." Bree hurried over, panic flashing across her face when she saw her in tears. "Why are you crying?" She held her face, wiping away the tears. "Did Nathaniel say something to you? What did he do this time?"
"He left," Zara whispered. "He won’t come back." Tears fell freely down her cheeks as she clung to her friend. "It hurts when he is around. But when he walked away, it hurt even more. I don’t know what to do."
Bree wrapped her arms around her, confused as to what had happened between them. But after her conversation with Nathaniel, her perception of him had changed. She was certain about one thing—he would never give up on Zara.
"Don’t cry," she murmured. "He’ll come back to you. Where else could he go? You are his world, the mother of his children. He won’t abandon you. Right now, just focus on yourself and the baby."
She smiled reassuringly, brushing away Zara’s tears. "Time heals all wounds. Give yourself and him some space. This phase will pass. Don’t think of this distance as the end of your relationship. It may actually bring you closer. You both know what you mean to each other. And when you come back together, your love will only grow stronger."
Bree’s gentle words eased the tightness in Zara’s chest. She nodded slowly. "You are right. Maybe I do need this time apart."
"That’s the strong Zara I know," Bree’s smile widened. Then she picked up the lunchbox from the side table and handed it to her. "Now—finish your soup."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three months slipped by almost unnoticed. Zara’s condition improved steadily, her pregnancy finally stabilizing. The baby was healthy and growing well. During the day, she immersed herself in work, meeting clients and keeping up with their demands. In the evenings, she devoted her time to Zane—playing with him, reading him stories.
Her life seemed to have settled back into rhythm. Her business was thriving, and on the surface, she appeared content. Yet beneath it all, there was an emptiness she couldn’t quite shake.
Nathaniel had not appeared before her since that final encounter at the hospital. He had kept his promise. His words still echoed in her mind: ’I won’t come in front of you until you call me.’
More than once, she had been tempted to reach out. But each time, she stopped herself. She feared that seeing him again would drag all the buried pain back to the surface, and she had no idea what she would say if that happened.
Too much had already been said. They had both hurt each other deeply. She wasn’t sure she could survive another heartbreak. The peace that settled in her life felt comforting, especially without Riya’s constant provocations.
Her in-laws had finally accepted her wholeheartedly. She had earned the recognition and respect she longed for and, at last, truly felt like part of the family. Although the void in her heart stung, she was peaceful now. And she didn’t want another emotional storm to trouble her.
’Maybe I just need a little more time,’ she thought.
In a few days, it would be Gracie and Vincent’s wedding anniversary, and the entire family was busy preparing for a grand celebration. Zara was certain Nathaniel would attend. After all, it was his parents’ special day. There was no way he would miss it.
She decided she would speak to him that day. She would let go of the resentment and start over for her children, for the family, and for her own happiness. She knew, deep down, that her true joy was with him. No achievement in her career or anyone else could fill the hollow in her heart. Only Nathaniel could make her feel whole again, surround her life with love and warmth.
"Am I interrupting?" a familiar voice broke her reverie.
Zara looked up to see Edith at the door and smiled warmly. "Edith, what a pleasant surprise. Please, come in."
Edith stepped inside with a grin. "How have you been?"
"I’m doing well. Please, have a seat," Zara said, gesturing toward the chair opposite her.
Edith sat down and said casually, "My boss has been swamped lately, so he sent me to check on you."
Zara laughed softly, shaking her head. "Liam worries too much. There was no need for that. He already calls me almost every day."
Edith’s smile dimmed slightly. She knew Liam had once loved someone he could never be with, though she had never known who that woman was. But after witnessing the way he cared for Zara, his quiet support, and the constant presence whenever Zara needed help, Edith began to suspect something.
Zara might be that woman.
A strange ache tightened around her heart. Fate had played a cruel joke: two close friends had fallen in love with the same woman.
After Zara married Nathaniel, Liam had stepped aside, never once confessing his feelings. Yet his love for her ran so deep that he had remained alone ever since. He poured everything into helping her succeed, into bringing happiness into her life, silently enduring the pain of watching her belong to another man. He never tried to claim her, nor did he try to compete.
Such devotion... why couldn’t she be loved like that?
Edith would have given him her whole heart if he had ever allowed her close. But she knew better—Liam’s heart had no room for anyone else. Lowering her eyes to the file in her hands, she let out a quiet, self-mocking smile.
"We are hosting our annual fashion show next month," she said, burying the ache deep inside. She placed the file on the table. "My boss wants you to present your best collections."
Zara’s eyes lit up. "Really?"
The thought of showcasing her designs at Shay Walsh’s show sent a thrill through her. It was an extraordinary honor.
"Liam wants me to present my work at his show?" she exclaimed with disbelief.
Edith nodded. "He would do anything for you. Helping you succeed is his priority."
Zara looked even more confused. "What do you mean? His priority?" She chuckled, shaking her head as she refused to believe it.
"Yes," Edith replied firmly. She had seen firsthand how far Liam went for Zara. "There are plenty of talented designers, yet he barely notices them. But when it comes to you, he never hesitates. He made you his business partner, even offered you his office space. Ask yourself—why would he do all that?"
Zara opened and closed her mouth, words failing her. She had never looked at it that way. Now, prompted by Edith, she tried to make sense of why Liam was so good to her. They weren’t good friends. Even though they had gone to the same college, they had barely talked. She really started to wonder about the reason behind Liam’s constant kindness.
"Maybe... because he is Nathaniel’s friend," she said uncertainly, though even to her ears, the explanation sounded flimsy.
Nathaniel had other friends, yet none of them had stepped in to help her. Why had Liam done so much? Was Nathaniel somehow involved?
This sounded convincing. Maybe Nathaniel had influenced Liam into helping her.
"You are too naive, Zara," Edith said with a strained smile. "You really don’t see it, do you?"
Zara squinted at her, trying to understand what Edith was actually trying to say.
"He likes you."
Zara froze, stunned. ’Liam likes me?’ The thought had never crossed her mind, not even once.
It sounded absurd.
"I know he has helped me a great deal, and I’m truly grateful," Zara said instantly. "I’d do anything to repay him. But what you are saying..."
"Whether you accept it or not, this is the truth," Edith cut in. "He has loved you since college. He wanted to confess back then, but couldn’t. And then you married his best friend. So he buried his feelings and carried them in silence all these years."
Zara blinked, unable to fully absorb what she was hearing. She wasn’t ready to accept that Liam’s kindness toward her stemmed from deeper feelings.
"Then tell me," Edith pressed, "why would he come looking for you at your comeback show? There were many other designers present. He paid no attention to them. Yet he went out of his way to congratulate you in person."