Reclaimed By My Ex-husband-Chapter 56: I don’t trust Riya

As the car rolled smoothly down the street, Zara turned to Bree, her chest full of gratitude.

"Thank you, Bree. You really saved me back there."

"Anything for you, boss," Bree replied with a bright smile. "I’m just glad I could help. Honestly, I’ve been feeling awful ever since that embarrassing incident, you know."

Her smile faltered. She looked down, guilt flickering in her eyes. "I still feel responsible for what happened last time. Because of me, things got messy. Nathaniel locked you up. I didn’t know how to face you after that. I’ve wanted to make it right ever since."

Zara reached over and placed her hand gently over Bree’s. "You already did. You stood up for me. You told Nathaniel the truth, even when it was hard. Whether he believed it or not, your support meant everything to me. And today? The way you handled Riya: It was amazing, flawless."

Bree managed a smile, but a shadow of concern lingered in her eyes. "Still, I think she suspects something," she said carefully. "It’s written all over her face. I don’t trust her, Zara. If she figures it out, you are pregnant before you tell Nathaniel yourself, she’ll twist everything. She’ll poison him against you."

Zara’s expression grew thoughtful. She instinctively placed a hand over her stomach, a swirl of emotion tightening in her chest.

’How would he react if he knew?’ she wondered.

Would Nathaniel be happy? Or would he shut her down with that same cold detachment he had shown before?

She couldn’t forget the past. Once, she had gathered the courage to talk to him about having a child, hoping they could build something real together. But he had rejected the idea flatly, saying he didn’t want another child.

And then there was Riya.

She hadn’t been able to shake the memory of the night Nathaniel spent with Riya just before his business trip. The incriminating photos of them together had only fueled her unease. Even though she had told Riya and tried to convince herself that Nathaniel saw her only as a sister, the doubt lingered.

They weren’t related by blood. And Riya had made it clear she loved him. What if Nathaniel started to feel the same?

And then there were the words he’d said that night—the ones that cut deep. Cold. Harsh. Unforgettable. That moment had carved a permanent scar in her memory, a reminder of why she couldn’t let herself trust him again.

She feared history might repeat itself—and destroy whatever peace she was trying to protect now.

"I don’t think it’s necessary," she said flatly. "I’m going to keep the pregnancy a secret. At least until the divorce is final."

Bree didn’t push. She just nodded with quiet support. "Alright. Whatever you decide, I’m with you."

Then, sensing the heaviness in the air, she shifted the mood. "On a brighter note—Jasper’s friend got back to him. The house is available. You can check it out whenever you are ready. Jasper has the key."

Zara’s eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands with a flicker of genuine excitement. "That’s amazing. I want to see it soon."

"We can go after work," Bree offered.

"Not today," Zara said, recalling her promise to Zane. "I’m planning to take Zane out for dinner. I want to go home early."

Bree smiled, understanding. "Tomorrow, then."

"Tomorrow," Zara agreed with a nod.

Later that day...

Zara was deep in her work, focused and locked in until her phone buzzed, interrupting her concentration. She glanced at the screen and immediately felt her stomach twist.

Dad

The sight of her father’s number alone stirred a fresh wave of anger. Without a second thought, she declined the call and tried to refocus. But the phone rang again.

Annoyed, she snatched it up and answered sharply. "What do you want this time? You lied to me about Jaxon being kidnapped just to get money. I can’t believe you’d stoop that low."

"I’m sorry," Isaac said, his voice unexpectedly soft, almost remorseful. "I caused you trouble."

Zara blinked, momentarily stunned.

A sorry?

Of all things, she hadn’t expected that. She was prepared for blame, shouting, and manipulation, but not an apology. It threw her off.

Her brow furrowed with suspicion. Something didn’t feel right.

"I didn’t lie about Jaxon being taken," Isaac went on. "He was taken from the hospital. Those debt collectors wanted their money, gave us twenty-four hours to pay or they’d kill him. I panicked. I didn’t know what else to do, so I called you."

Zara rolled her eyes silently. ’Still making excuses,’ she thought bitterly.

"I was scared to call the police," Isaac continued. "But you did the right thing. After the police visited, the men brought Jaxon back. I think they saw the cops outside and backed off."

Zara’s frown deepened. The pieces didn’t quite add up.

"So, you are saying they just... let him go because they saw the police outside your house?" Her tone was laced with doubt. None of it sat right with her. Not the apology. Not the story.

"Yes," Isaac replied quickly. "They said they didn’t want things to escalate now that the authorities were involved. But they still gave us a warning. If we don’t pay off the debt within a week, they’ll take the house."

Zara could barely contain her frustration. "You should have seen this coming. With the way Jaxon has been acting, it was only a matter of time. Instead of helping with the business, he has thrown everything away on gambling, and you let it happen. You never held him accountable. You just kept turning to me for money, like I’m some kind of ATM."

There was a moment of silence on the line before Isaac responded, "He knows he messed up. He promised he is going to change."

Zara scoffed, unimpressed. "I’ve heard that before."

"He means it this time," Isaac insisted. "He said he wants to take responsibility and work hard from now on."

Zara was exhausted—mentally, emotionally, and now with this same repeated cycle. "Just get to the point," she said bluntly. "If this is another roundabout way of asking for money, don’t bother. I have nothing for you. This is your mess. Deal with it."

But then Isaac said something that took her off guard.

"We are not asking for money," he said softly. "We have already taken too much from you, and we are embarrassed. We would like to invite you to dinner. That’s all. We want to apologize properly. Don’t say no. If you don’t come, we’ll take it as a sign you haven’t forgiven us."

Zara hesitated. Her mind flashed back to the last time she had gone to their place, how close she had come to losing her baby. The memory alone made her skin crawl.

"Not tonight," she said firmly. "I have other things to do. I’m hanging up."

She didn’t wait for a reply. Her thumb hit the end call button, and she tossed the phone onto her desk, thinking that was the end of it.

But she was wrong.

Later that evening, as she stepped out of the office, tired and ready to leave the day behind, she froze. Standing by the building’s entrance was Isaac.

"You?" Her steps halted. Her eyebrows drew together in a tight frown.

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