Chapter 186: The reality of Riya
It wasn’t as if that bracelet was one of a kind—others might own the same design.
Nathaniel tried to steady himself with that thought, but unease gnawed at him. The possibility that Riya had been the one to drug Zara made his chest tighten. After all, he knew well that Riya never liked Zara.
"Could it really be Riya?" he murmured in a daze.
Determined, he restarted the footage and kept his eyes fixed on the far corner of the hall. That’s when he caught Riya standing a short distance away from Bree and Zara, her gaze sharp and hostile as she stared at them. Moments later, she slipped purposefully behind the pillar.
That was enough.
Nathaniel’s stomach dropped. "It’s her... it’s really her."
His body slumped against the chair, the weight of the revelation sinking in. Shock and disbelief tangled across his face.
He had brushed aside Riya’s hostility toward Zara as nothing more than childish tantrums, ways to grab his attention. But this... this was proof of something much darker.
’Why does she hate Zara so much?’ he thought, shaken.
Deep down, he already knew the answer. He had just refused to acknowledge it. He had always seen Riya as a younger sister, but the truth was undeniable. Her bitterness toward Zara came from feelings he had never wanted to admit existed.
Nathaniel’s thoughts instantly circled back to Liam’s chilling words—the waitress had been found murdered in her own home, her throat brutally slit.
The pieces fit together too well. Riya had bribed the waitress, used Jaxon to lure Zara into the lounge, where Wade had been present already. She was cruel enough to silence the witness because of the fear of getting caught.
’Riya isn’t the innocent girl I once knew,’ Nathaniel realized grimly. ’She has changed.’ Her connection with Zacharey made her dangerous.
Rage twisted across his face. Every part of him wanted to storm out, drag Riya in front of him, and make her pay for what she had done to Zara. But Kelvin’s warning rang in his head.
Riya was still a key piece in the larger game against Zachary. If he acted rashly, he could lose that leverage.
Even so, Nathaniel resolved not to let Riya hurt his wife anymore. "I can’t just let this go. I need to confront her... I need to warn her."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Zara and Bree finally exhaled in relief as they stepped out of the lavish office, their faces glowing with excitement.
"It’s done," Bree chirped. "The venue is booked, the event planner is on board... I can’t believe we are actually pulling off something this big. I’m thrilled."
"Me too," Zara echoed, her joy shining through. "But we need to be extra cautious. Nicole has entrusted us with full responsibility. We can’t let anything go wrong."
She still shuddered at the memory of the disaster at Shay’s event.
Catching the shadow on her friend’s face, Bree softened her tone. "I know it’s a huge responsibility, but we have got the best team on our side." She flashed a bright grin to cheer Zara up. "Everyone is giving their absolute best. This event will be a hit—you’ll see."
Zara’s lips curved back into a smile.
"One day, we’ll host our own event," Bree added dreamily, linking her arm with Zara’s. "Your name will shine on the banner, ’Zara’s Creations.’"
"I’d love to see that day come," Zara replied warmly.
The two burst out laughing together.
"And what has you two looking so delighted?"
They froze mid-step and turned toward the familiar voice. Shay was approaching with his trademark charming smile lighting up his face.
Bree’s jaw nearly hit the floor, while Zara blinked in surprise.
"Zara, it’s Shay Walsh," Bree whispered excitedly, squeezing her hand.
Zara forced a polite smile. "You... came here for work?"
Liam nodded as he stepped closer. "Yes, I came to meet a friend."
In truth, his family owned the entire building—an event management company that handled everything from weddings and social parties to concerts and corporate conferences. It was part of the Lawson family business, and Liam had been overseeing it.
Running into Zara here was unexpected, but he kept his identity hidden.
"And you?" He arched a brow curiously.
"We came to book a hall," Zara explained. "Nicole is launching the season’s wedding collection."
"Ah," he said with a knowing nod. "I’ve heard the buzz. Everyone is looking forward to that show. If I can help in any way, it would be an honor."
Bree’s eyes widened at his thoughtful tone. "Yes, we would—" she began eagerly, only for Zara to give her hand a firm squeeze, cutting her off mid-sentence.
"That’s very kind of you," Zara said smoothly, "but we don’t want to trouble you. The hall is already booked."
"I see." Liam smiled, though a faint pang of disappointment settled in his chest. He had hoped to do something for her, to find some excuse to be near her. But it seemed Zara was deliberately keeping her distance.
Perhaps she was still upset over what had happened at the party. Or perhaps she simply didn’t want to engage with him.
’Why would she want to spend time with me?’ he thought bitterly. ’I mean nothing to her. She is married.’
He reminded himself firmly—she was his friend’s wife.
"We should go now," Zara said firmly. With a polite smile, she tugged Bree along toward the exit.
Bree dragged her feet, clearly displeased. She pouted and muttered, "Why didn’t you accept his offer? He stepped up willingly. Anyone else would’ve jumped at the chance. Zara, don’t forget—he is Shay Walsh. A famous designer with strong connections. If we get his support, so many things could become easier."
Zara understood perfectly well. Having someone like Shay Walsh on their side would be an enormous advantage. But she wanted to carve her own path.
"I know what you mean," she replied calmly. "But we need to trust ourselves first. We should stand on our own and find out what we are capable of. If we can’t manage it alone, then we’ll consider asking for help."
Bree sighed in defeat, knowing she couldn’t win against Zara’s determination. She forced a smile. "You are right. And you’ve got me. Together, we can take on the world."
They both laughed as they stepped outside.
Liam remained rooted in place, his gaze following them. A strange pull stirred in his chest, and before he realized it, he was moving.
"Zara..."
Both women froze at the sound of his voice. Turning back, they saw Shay striding toward them.
"Could we talk for a moment?" Liam asked hopefully. "Maybe we can sit somewhere and have a word."