On the other end, Gracie stared at her phone in stunned silence, struggling to process what she had just heard.
Divorce? When did this happen?
Without wasting a moment, she quickly dialed Nathaniel's number. After a few long rings, he finally answered.
"Mom, I'm busy right now. Can we talk later?" Nathaniel's tone was curt, already reaching to end the call.
"Wait," Gracie exclaimed urgently, stopping him before he could hang up. "I need to ask you something important." After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Are you really divorcing Zara?"
Nathaniel paused, leaning back in his chair before answering slowly, "Yes."
A heavy silence followed on Gracie's side. She had known all along that Nathaniel had never truly loved Zara and that their marriage was more a promise kept for Nora than anything else. Still, she had hoped against hope that things might change, that the marriage could hold together, if only for Zane's sake.
But that hope shattered with his simple confirmation.
"Zara has been wonderful to Zane," Gracie said softly, her tone persuading. "You won't find a better mother than her."
Nathaniel replied coolly, "She'll always be his mother, even after the divorce. She can meet with him whenever she wants."
"And what about you?" Frustration crept into Gracie's voice as she pressed on. "She has been a good wife—loyal, obedient. Why are you not giving her a chance?"
"I don't need anyone, Mom," Nathaniel snapped sharply, his voice rising. "That marriage was just an obligation. I don't want to continue it."
"Alright." Gracie sighed, realizing arguing was futile. "If you are set on ending this marriage, I'll support you. But don't regret it later. Oh, and Zara sent Zane to the mansion. She refused to come see him, said he is no longer her responsibility."
Without waiting for a reply, she ended the call.
Nathaniel's brow furrowed deeply. The phrase "Zane is no longer her responsibility" kept ringing in his mind. "What is she trying to say with that? I never meant to keep her away from Zane."
Later that day…
Inside the quiet bathroom…
Zara anxiously waited for the pregnancy test to reveal its result. Her fingers twisted nervously as she paced up and down, glancing at the pregnancy kit.
Then, suddenly, two vivid pink lines appeared.
"I'm pregnant," she breathed softly, one hand instinctively resting on her belly. Tears welled up in her eyes. "My baby…"
Having been reborn, her child was back. "This time, I'll protect you. No one will ever hurt you." Her voice trembled with determination.
In the past, she had lost her child, and the fear of Nathaniel forcing her to terminate the pregnancy haunted her.
"No, I can't let him know," she resolved not to reveal her pregnancy. "I'll leave this house."
Stepping out of the bathroom, Zara dialed Bree's number.
After a few rings, Bree answered, "Hello?"
"Bree," Zara hesitated for a moment before asking, "Can I stay with you for a few days until I find a new place?"
"Of course, you can," Bree replied without hesitation. "My apartment is big enough. You can stay as long as you need."
A faint smile crossed Zara's lips. "Thank you. I'll move in today."
"No need to worry. I'll come pick you up," Bree offered eagerly.
Shaking her head, Zara replied, "No, I'll come see Zane first before moving out."
"Alright, I'll wait for you."
With the call ended, Zara began gathering her things.
There was a soft knock on the door twice before Mrs. Jules stepped inside, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw Zara hurriedly packing her bag.
"Madam, are you going somewhere?" she asked, a note of concern in her voice.
Zara barely glanced at her. "I'm moving out," she said, her tone cold and distant.
"Moving out?" Mrs. Jules repeated in disbelief, unable to hide her shock.
Zara paused briefly before replying with a detached calmness, "Nathaniel and I are getting a divorce. It's no longer possible for me to stay here."
Mrs. Jules stood frozen, mouth slightly open, stunned by the revelation. For the past five years, she had watched Zara care patiently for Nathaniel and Zane, enduring Nathaniel's coldness with quiet hope. She believed their marriage was unbreakable. But now, the truth was undeniable. They were ending it.
What startled Mrs. Jules even more was Zara's lack of visible sorrow, as if she had been waiting for this moment to finally walk away from the house, from the marriage.
"You are leaving?" Mrs. Jules murmured, still in a daze. "What about Zane?"
"Zane is with his grandmother. He'll be fine." Zara's voice was flat and steady. She gestured toward the shelves filled with jewelry boxes.
"Mrs. Jules, please help me sell these. I don't want them anymore."
The housekeeper's eyes widened again, shocked. "Those are gifts from your husband. You…"
"I don't need his gifts," Zara interrupted firmly. "Just help me sell them."
Mrs. Jules opened her mouth to respond, but Zara cut her off gently but firmly.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me these past five years. I truly appreciate it." She gave Mrs. Jules a brief squeeze on the shoulder before turning and pulling her suitcase behind her as she left the room.
"What? She is really leaving?" Mrs. Jules muttered under her breath with confusion and sadness. "Such a beautiful family... how did it come to this?" She shrugged helplessly.
Later, when Zara reached the Grant family mansion, night had already fallen. In the hall, she spotted Gracie, calmly sipping her coffee with an air of superiority.
"Oh, look who decided to show up," Gracie sneered, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "I thought you'd disappear for good. But I guess you realized you can't just walk away from this marriage."
She took a deliberate sip, then set the cup down with a soft clink. "Nathaniel wants to divorce you, yes. But I can stop him if you beg me. Just say the word, and I'll talk him out of it."
Zara gripped the fabric of her skirt tightly, emotions coiling tightly in her chest. In the past, she might have fallen to her knees, begging for Gracie's help. But now, she was resolute.
"Nathaniel doesn't love me," she said quietly but firmly. "His heart belongs to Nora. You know that. So why keep this marriage going? It's nothing but a torment for both of us."