CHAPTER 97: A FAVOR?

Zara’s face darkened with fury, her hands twitching at her sides. A sharp slap would have satisfied her, but she knew better than to cause a scene in front of so many eyes.

Riya was provoking her, clearly hoping to stir trouble, but Zara had no intention of giving her that satisfaction.

She steadied herself, swallowing the urge to beat her. "If Nathaniel wants to make amends, that’s a good thing. After all, I am his wife. The mother of his son. Who else would he support, if not me?"

Riya blinked, taken aback. That wasn’t the response she expected. She had come prepared for drama, anger, and violation. But what she got was Zara’s cool indifference and confident composure, which unsettled her.

"When he helps you, it’s called support," Zara continued. "But when it’s me, it’s called pity. Why the double standard?"

She took a step forward. Riya instinctively backed away, her spine stiffening. The look in Zara’s eyes was enough to make her nervous. She hadn’t forgotten how Zara had walloped her before. The sharp sound of that slap still seemed to echo in her ear.

"I’ve been his wife for five years," Zara added fiercely. "This is the first time he has actually done something for me. Why shouldn’t I take it? It’s my right."

Riya faltered, stepping back again, her earlier smugness vanishing.

"So let me make this clear," Zara stepped toward her further. "The next time you try to provoke me or poison my mind, I won’t just warn you. I’ll make sure you regret it."

She leaned in slightly, her gaze piercing through Riya. "I hope you remember the slaps."

Riya’s spine trembled.

"Don’t even think of coming between me and my husband." Without waiting for a response, Zara turned and walked past her, deliberately dashing her shoulder against Riya’s.

Riya stood frozen in place, humiliated, shaken, and completely defeated, her face flushed.

Rage twisted through Riya like a tornado. "That arrogant bitch," she muttered under her breath. Her lips curled in fury. "She dares to threaten me? Just wait. Your pride will shatter tonight. Nathaniel will throw you out like garbage. Then let’s see how long you can keep that smug face."

Her grip around the phone tightened, her eyes wild.

Meanwhile, Zara stormed down the corridor, heading toward the green room. She didn’t glance sideways. Her vision tunneled, her thoughts loud and spiraling. The confrontation with Riya left her blood boiling.

She had said those words just to shut Riya up. But the truth was, she didn’t want anyone’s favors. Not from Nicole. Not from Nathaniel.

She had fought hard to earn her place again. She didn’t want to owe anyone.

’She’s lying,’ Zara reminded herself not to fall into Riya’s lies. ’Nicole already explained everything. Nathaniel had nothing to do with it. This was my win.’

Just then, Nicole’s voice echoed from around the corner, low but clear.

"I think she is suspicious. I explained that it was me who asked you for the favor, but I’m not sure she believed me."

Zara froze mid-step, heart thudding against her ribcage.

And then came Nathaniel’s voice. "Don’t stress about it. You explained enough. She won’t suspect anything. Don’t bring it up again. I’m just glad you gave her such a big opportunity. It’s a great help."

The words hit Zara like a slap. Her knees buckled slightly, and she leaned against the wall for support.

The realization sank in. Riya hadn’t been lying. Nathaniel had orchestrated it all. He had pulled the strings.

Nicole’s offer, the award... none of it had come on its own merit.

Her world blurred. Tears welled up, clouding her vision. Humiliation burned through her. She wanted success on her own merit, not with someone’s favor. The joy and excitement of winning the award had vanished, replaced by shame and anger.

She turned around and rushed out of the hallway, her heart cracking with betrayal. All that strength, all that pride—now felt like nothing more than a lie.

Behind her, Nicole and Nathaniel’s conversation continued.

"Honestly, when you first brought up Zara, I had my doubts," Nicole admitted. "But the moment I saw her work on the runway, I was blown away. I’ve been in this industry for years, seen countless collections—most of them beautiful, yes, but often just iterations of the same thing. But Zara..."

Her eyes lit up with admiration. "She brought something new. Her designs were bold, refreshing—unlike anything I’ve seen in a long time. I’m genuinely thrilled to work with her. She is a gem. Why did you keep her hidden away for all these years?"

She threw Nathaniel an inquisitive look.

Nathaniel looked down, his smile tinged with sorrow. "That’s on me. I ignored her... shut myself down. I was stuck in the past, unwilling to move forward. I didn’t see her, not the way I should have. But now, I finally understand what she means to me. My life doesn’t make sense without her."

He sighed heavily, his guilt pressing down. "I’ve made so many mistakes. But I want to make it right. I lost Nora...and I’m not ready to lose Zara too."

Nicole’s expression softened. She put a hand on his shoulder. "It’s good you are finally moving on, Nathaniel. I know how hard it has been for you to let go of Nora. You loved her deeply. But she is gone, and you are still here. You deserve to live again with someone who genuinely cares about you and is willing to be part of your life."

As soon as Nora’s name was mentioned, a familiar ache tightened in Nathaniel’s chest. The grief hadn’t vanished. It just lingered, buried deep within him. But he was ready to start over with Zara.

He forced a smile, but it faltered at his eyes.

Nicole didn’t seem to notice, or perhaps she did and chose not to say anything about Nora. She continued, "Zara is so good. Don’t let her slip away. Cherish her."

"Thank you, Nicole. For everything."

She gave him a small, encouraging nod. "Then go. Go to her."

Nathaniel turned and began walking briskly down the corridor. He dialed Roberto. The line connected quickly.

"Have you arranged what I asked for?" Nathaniel asked.

"Yes, sir," Roberto replied. "Everything is ready. Will you be arriving soon?"

"In a while," Nathaniel answered before ending the call.

Stuffing the phone back into his pocket, he picked up his pace, heading toward the green room, eager to find Zara. His heart raced with a mix of excitement and anticipation. He had prepared a surprise gift for her and couldn’t wait to see the joy in her eyes.