CHAPTER 234: GRACIE’S SUGGESTION

"Uh?" Zara’s mouth fell open in surprise. She could hardly believe what she just heard. The renowned designer, known to the world as Shay Walsh, wanted her to work with him. It was a huge honor, but she was already under contract with Nicole and fully occupied handling her growing workload.

She couldn’t possibly take on another commitment.

"I’m honored," she said, "but I’m already working for Nicole. I signed a contract."

"That’s not a problem," Liam said urgently. "The contract can be terminated. If necessary, I’ll even cover the penalty myself. Just think about what I’m offering."

"I..." Zara faltered, unsure what to say.

"You are working under her label," Liam interrupted. "You are one of many designers helping her build her name. Don’t you want to step out of her shadow? Don’t you want your own brand?"

His words struck a chord. Zara hesitated, her mind torn. Seeing that, Liam pressed on.

"I can give you that chance," he said firmly. "If you join me, your designs will carry your name, not mine. I don’t want you to be just another designer in my team. I want you to lead, to mentor the designers working for me."

Liam’s proposal was undeniably tempting. Zara had always dreamed of creating her own brand, and working with Nicole had seemed like the first step toward that goal. But despite her hard work, she remained in Nicole’s shadow, without recognition or a name of her own. Even so, she couldn’t cancel the contract without a reason. Yet rejecting Liam outright didn’t feel right either.

Moreover, Nicole had recently promised her that she would be allowed to showcase her own designs under her name in the upcoming spring collection.

"Let me think about it," Zara said cautiously. "Give me some time."

Liam nodded understandingly. "Fine. Take your time. Once you’ve made up your mind, reach out to me."

He smiled hopefully. At least, Zara didn’t turn him down straight away, and that alone made Liam confident she would eventually say yes.

Later that day...

Nathaniel returned to the mansion.

"Nathaniel," Gracie greeted him warmly with a smile. "Come, sit down. I’ve been waiting for you."

Nathaniel looked around. "Why is it so quiet today? Where is everyone?"

"Your father took your grandmother to the hospital for her check-up. They should be back soon. And Riya’s busy with her photoshoot," Gracie explained. "Come on, have some tea with me."

She poured him a cup and handed it over. "A friend gifted me this imported tea. It has such a soothing aroma. I’ve grown quite fond of it. Try it."

Nathaniel took a sip. The taste was refreshing, but his mind was elsewhere, not in the mood to enjoy the tea. He had been uneasy on his way home, worried his mother might still be upset with Zara.

He had been wondering what she would say, but to his surprise, Gracie appeared calm. It somehow made him even more nervous, as if it were the calm before a storm.

"Mom," he began carefully, "you mentioned Zara over the phone earlier. What was that about?"

Gracie took another sip of her tea before setting the cup aside. "I was angry with her at first," she admitted. "I thought she wasn’t giving Zane enough attention. But then I considered. She is now working with Nicole. I can understand how busy she is."

Nathaniel’s lips curved into a proud smile at the mention of Zara. "Yes, she has been busy lately. The demand for her work is growing fast. Don’t worry, Mom. We are managing fine. And if it ever becomes too much, we can always hire a nanny."

"What’s the need for a nanny when we can take care of our own grandson?" Gracie crossed one leg over the other and fixed her sharp gaze on Nathaniel. "You should move in here. That way, you can go to work without worrying about Zane."

"Uh," Nathaniel hesitated for a moment. He was sure Zara wouldn’t like the idea, especially because of her strained relationship with Riya. "That’s not really necessary, Mom. We are there for Zane. Besides, there are servants."

"Servants can’t truly look after a child," Gracie countered firmly. "Think about it. You both work late most days. Zane must feel lonely being at home without you and Zara around. If you stay here, he’ll have family with him, and you two can focus on work without concern. It’s the best arrangement for everyone."

Nathaniel couldn’t deny her reasoning. What she said made sense. After a brief pause, he nodded. "Alright. I’ll discuss it with Zara."

"Don’t talk – tell her," Gracie said with an unyielding tone. "Tell her it’s what is best for Zane and for everyone else. She is a mother. She should understand what’s right for her child."

Gracie nailed it with the last sentence. Nathaniel had no argument left. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like a reasonable plan.

"Fine," he agreed finally. "We’ll move in."

Gracie smiled, contented. But a flicker of malice flashed in the back of her eyes. She was eagerly waiting for Zara and determined to make her pay for humiliating her.

~~~~~~~~~

Zara finally wrapped up her work and glanced over at Zane, who was quietly absorbed in his drawing. A fond smile touched her lips as she watched him. He had grown so obedient lately, never interrupting her while she worked. He silently stayed in the corner of her office, busy with his own things.

"Zane," she called him softly. "Are you tired?"

Zane looked up with a cheerful grin. "Not at all. I’m having fun drawing. Look what I made today." He hurried to her desk, proudly holding out his sketchbook.

Zara flipped through the pages, admiring his progress. "Wow, you are getting better day by day," she praised.

He grinned even wider at her compliment. "Our new drawing teacher is so amazing..." He then started talking about the new teacher.

Zara listened with quiet joy, her heart full. It was a relief to see him so happy. "I’ll bring some toys here for you," she said warmly. "That way you won’t get bored when I’m busy."

His limpid eyes sparkled with joy. "Really? Then I’ll pick the toys myself."

"Of course," she agreed with a soft laugh. "But remember, no noise. People here are working."

"I understand. I’ll stay silent and will not disturb anyone."

"That’s my good boy." She affectionately ruffled his hair. "Now pack up your things. It’s time to go home."

Zane hopped and went back to the sofa, quickly gathering his belongings and stuffing them into his bag. "All done. Let’s go."

Zara picked up her bag and swung it on her shoulder, walking out with Zane’s hand with hers. Just as they went out of the office building, they paused when they saw Nathaniel approaching.

Surprise flashed across her face. "You?" she blurted.