CHAPTER 286: HELP ME LEAVE THIS PLACE.

Zara jolted upright, her hand instinctively flying to her stomach. "What? I’m... pregnant?"

Bree heard it too. Shocked, she nearly dropped her phone and hurried to Zara’s side, eyes darting to the doctor. "Is she really pregnant?"

The doctor nodded. "Yes. She is about ten weeks along. The pregnancy is still delicate, so she must be very careful. Where is your husband? You should inform him."

Husband?

Zara’s expression stiffened as memories of their last fight resurfaced. Nathaniel had told her that he had never cared, that he had wanted to end things for a long time. They had already signed the divorce papers. There was no reason for him to know about this child.

"I’m divorced," Zara said firmly. "My ex-husband doesn’t need to know about the baby. Please keep this confidential."

She would protect this child—far away from Nathaniel.

The doctor hesitated, slightly taken aback, but eventually nodded. "Alright. If that’s your decision, we’ll keep it private."

"Thank you, doctor," Zara said softly.

Once the doctor stepped out, Bree broke into a wide grin and hugged her tightly. "Oh my God, Zara—you are pregnant again. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you. This baby will be born healthy."

Zara silently vowed the same. She couldn’t afford another loss.

’Nathaniel... we are having a baby,’ she whispered inwardly. ’But you don’t want me in your life. Since you chose to walk away, I’ll respect it. I won’t trouble you ever again.’

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The news of the shootout swept through the city like wildfire. And within hours, the internet erupted with the headline: ’Woman Found Dead in Zachary’s Penthouse.’

Rumors multiplied faster than the officials could release statements. Whispers turned into accusations, and accusations turned into a frenzy. Riya’s death had become the city’s newest scandal.

Leaked photos and videos of her and Zachary’s intimate moments were everywhere across social media. More details emerged by midday. The outrage only grew sharper when the news of her poisoning of Mrs. Grant, her alliance with Zachary to target Nathaniel, spread.

Comment sections were flooded with heated remarks.

’Zachary is the real monster. He brainwashed her. Manipulated her. Used her like a pawn against the Grants.’

’No, Riya deserved what happened. She poisoned her own foster mother. Don’t forget that.’

’They are both evil. One greedy, the other shameless. They should die.’

People were divided into two groups: one side condemning Zachary for orchestrating everything, the other convinced Riya was the true villain. But despite their arguments, everyone agreed on one thing—Zachary should be punished severely.

Hashtags demanding justice trended. News vans crowded outside the Grant mansion, reporters shouting for statements. Police scanners buzzed nonstop. Officers were deployed across districts, raiding hideouts, checking airports, and checking CCTV footage.

Yet Zachary was nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the underworld, the mafia king had also launched a search operation. He wanted Zachary alive before the police could get him.

Roberto and Nathaniel finally allowed themselves to enjoy the victory.

"His company is collapsing," Roberto reported. "Investors are backing out one after another. The stock value is crashing. At this rate, bankruptcy is inevitable."

"Good," Nathaniel said coldly. "Buy up the shares. I’m going to take over his entire empire."

A fierce determination lit his eyes. "He tried to destroy me, tried to claim everything I built. Now I want him to watch his own world crumble while I gain control of everything he once owned."

"He won’t be able to hide much longer," Roberto assured him. "The police are hunting him. And more importantly, the mafia king has declared war on the enemy gang. Zachary has no allies left. He is running alone, trying to stay alive. His end is near. You might hear the news of his demise soon."

Nathaniel knew Roberto was right, yet a shadow of unease lingered in the corner of his heart. "We can’t underestimate him," he cautioned. "Zachary is clever, ruthless, and dangerous. He had the guts to betray his own boss. He is capable of anything. I won’t let him get close to my family again."

He stood up, shoulders firm with resolve. "Let’s go home. I’ve had enough of hiding. I need to see my family. And keep tracking Jaxon. He can’t be allowed to slip away."

Nathaniel headed out of the small safehouse, Roberto close behind. After months of living in the dark, he was finally stepping back into the world beside his boss, ready for whatever came next.

At the hospital...

Liam arrived with a bright smile, eager to share the updates. He cheerfully recounted everything that had happened to Riya.

Zara listened in shock. She struggled to believe that the mysterious boyfriend Riya had mentioned was none other than Zachary.

"So, she was actually involved with Zachary," Zara muttered, astonished. "Even after knowing he hated the Grants? I thought she only had a personal grudge against me... but teaming up with him to destroy the family that raised her? I never imagined she would go that far."

"She was rotten. It’s good she faced the consequences," Liam said, brushing off the topic. Then, brightening up again, he added, "Anyway, I’ve got great news. You can work from my studio until the renovation is finished."

He waited for her reaction, expecting excitement. But Zara didn’t smile. She didn’t even look pleased. Her quiet stillness made Liam’s grin slowly fade.

"What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?" he asked, confused.

Zara lowered her gaze, fingers fidgeting in her lap. "I’m thankful, Liam. You’ve been there when I had no one. You’ve helped me more than I can say."

She slowly lifted her eyes to his. "I need one more favor." Her voice dropped. "Help me leave this place. I want to get out of here, this city, this country. I want to start over somewhere far away."

Liam froze, stunned by her request. "You... want to leave?" he repeated, unable to hide his shock.

Zara nodded firmly. "Yes. This place will always remind me of the pain I’ve endured. I need a fresh start, somewhere new, somewhere no one knows me. I don’t want to stay here anymore."

Liam faltered for a moment. Hearing the sadness in her voice made something inside him crack. He wanted to grant every wish she had, to take her somewhere far away where no one could reach them. But he also knew Nathaniel had distanced her for a reason, because of the mission. He was certain Zara would rethink everything once she learned the divorce had been nothing but an act.

Yet the selfish part of him didn’t want to tell her any of that. This could be his chance to win her back. If he supported her, fulfilled her wishes, and stayed close, maybe she would return to him. But his rational side forced him to speak.

"Zara, think this through," he said carefully. "There are things you are not aware of. Nathaniel—"

"Don’t say his name," Zara snapped, cutting him off. "I don’t want to hear anything about him."

Her anger toward Nathaniel surged. She wanted nothing to do with him anymore. "He has hurt me enough. I stood by him for years, supported him and his family, and all I got in return was pain. He never once understood what I felt."

Her expression stiffened. "I’ve decided. I won’t let him hurt me again."

Liam sighed and shook his head. "You are getting him wrong. He kept you away for a reason, for your protection."

"For my protection?" Zara repeated, shocked.

Liam nodded. "He did it to bring down Zachary and expose Riya."

Zara’s eyes widened. "So he knew all along that Riya was involved with Zachary, plotting against the family."

"Exactly," Liam confirmed firmly. "Zachary has linked to the underworld. He is dangerous. Bringing him down required proper planning. But before anything else, Nathaniel wanted you safe. With Riya constantly targeting you, he feared they might harm you. That’s why he staged the divorce, so you’d be out of their line of fire. He believed they would stop going after you once he publicly distanced himself."

"He faked the divorce?" Zara’s voice rose in shock. "He ended things with me, pushed me away... and it was all part of a planned lie?"

Her astonishment quickly twisted into rage.

"He lied to me," she hissed, bitterness rising in her throat. "I asked him if someone was forcing him, if Riya had cornered him in any way. But he mocked me, said he never cared about me."

Her eyes brimmed with tears. "Even if the separation was just an act for him, the pain I felt wasn’t fake. The heartbreak I endured, the sting of betrayal—none of that was fake."

Liam opened his mouth, searching for the right words, but couldn’t find them. "I know it hurts," he said quietly. "But try to see his side too. He was up against someone dangerous. His whole family was at high risk. Everything he did was to shield the people he cared about. Hurting you was never his intention."

"Well, he did hurt me," she shot back. "He kept me completely in the dark. He could’ve told me the truth. I would’ve stood by him. That’s what couples are supposed to do, right? Support each other. Instead, he pushed me away."

Her breath trembled as the memories resurfaced. "He even sabotaged my career by getting Nicole to cancel my contract. He knew exactly what that would do to me, yet he still allowed it."

Her voice wavered. "He banned me from entering the Grant mansion, kept me from seeing his mother. And he knew how deeply I cared about that family. Tell me, does a man who truly cares do all that?"