Chapter 190: Aren’t you tired of lying?
Riya’s expression faltered, her confident mask cracking under the weight of his glare. She had expected him to be angry with Zara. Instead, he was accusing her.
"No, that’s not what I mean," she rushed out. A wave of nervous energy coursed through her, cold sweat prickling at the back of her neck. "I’m not trying to break your marriage. I’m just... worried. Afraid that she is deceiving you. I could be wrong, but I didn’t want you blindsided. That’s why I said all this. My intention isn’t to destroy your marriage, I swear."
But Nathaniel wasn’t moved. This time, he could clearly see through her, and it only added to his fury. He cursed himself for not seeing this side of her sooner.
"You don’t need to worry about where she goes or who she meets," he cut in coldly. "Zara is an independent woman. She runs her own business. Meeting clients, building connections—these things are natural. And Shay Walsh? He is a big name in the fashion industry. Since she is pursuing her career in this field, it’s only normal that she meets him and strengthens her bond with him."
Riya felt a sharp sting in her chest at Nathaniel’s words, as if an invisible blade had pierced through her pride. She sat frozen, stunned. Her lips parted as if to argue, but no sound escaped. She had come prepared to manipulate, to stir his doubts, but instead, she found herself cornered.
Her plan to turn him against Zara had collapsed before her eyes, leaving her frustration simmering dangerously. She couldn’t comprehend it. How had Nathaniel become so understanding, so protective, of Zara?
Once, it had been easy to sow doubt in his heart. But now... now it was as though time itself had strengthened the bond between Zara and Nathaniel. If this continued, he would fall completely for her.
’No,’ Riya thought fiercely. ’That can’t be true. Nathaniel has always loved only one woman—Nora. He could never fall for Zara.’
Despite the fire of jealousy burning inside her, she forced a smile. "You are so considerate. Zara is lucky to have such an understanding husband. But still, I want to warn you. You shouldn’t trust her blindly..."
The words barely left her lips before Nathaniel’s sharp voice cut through. "Then who do you think I should trust? She is my wife."
Riya flinched, her smile faltering. "I..." She stammered, unable to form words.
"Why are you always after her?" His face was carved in fury. "You never stop blaming her, accusing her falsely at every turn. What is your agenda, Riya? Why do you hate her so much?"
The sheer force of his voice stripped away the little bit of confidence she had. Riya’s eyes turned watery. She had never seen Nathaniel being so harsh with her.
Her mind raced, panic seeping into every corner of her being. She couldn’t let him see the real reason.
"N-Nathaniel," she stuttered, "you have misunderstood me. I don’t hate Zara. Why would I? She is your wife... I only... I only worry that she might hurt you. That’s why I speak up. I just want to protect you."
"Is that so?" He sneered. "If you truly didn’t hate her, you wouldn’t keep coming here trying to poison my mind against my own wife. I used to overlook it, thinking it was nothing more than childish behavior—your way of seeking attention. I even defended you, even when it meant hurting Zara. I’ve always stood by you and treated you with kindness. But instead of valuing that, you’ve taken my care for granted and turned it into hostility toward my wife."
A sheen of nervous sweat glistened on her forehead.
"No, no, please listen to me. You know how much I respect you," she added quickly. "I could never have an agenda against her. I said those things out of concern. Perhaps I was wrong. I was careless. But it was never hatred."
Inside, Riya’s heart hammered wildly. ’Stay calm. Don’t break. If he senses the truth, it’s over. I can’t let him see...’
"If you still think I am wrong, I apologize to you. I spoke out of turn. It won’t happen again."
Her heart burned hotter with humiliation.
Nathaniel raised his hand, silencing her. "Riya, this is the last time I’ll tolerate you speaking ill of my wife. Do you understand me?"
His tone was not raised, but the steel beneath it was unmistakable. Every syllable carried a threat that chilled her more than if he had shouted.
Riya shook her head, trying to defend herself. But Nathaniel didn’t give her a chance to speak.
"You claim to be worried for me," Nathaniel continued. "But all I see is malice disguised as concern. Don’t think I can’t tell the difference."
Riya’s throat tightened. "I-I never meant—"
Nathaniel’s sharp gaze sliced through the air, halting Riya’s excuses. "If you truly respected me," he said coldly, "you would have never tried to harm my wife. You even stooped so low as to drug her."
The words struck like thunder. Riya’s back went rigid, a chill racing up her spine until her scalp prickled.
’Drugging Zara? He knows? How?’ Her mind reeled.
She had meticulously avoided the surveillance cameras in the hall, silenced the waitress who had helped her, and ensured Jaxon vanished underground. Every loose end had been tied. No one should have been able to connect her to the incident.
"What are you talking about?" she whispered, forcing a mask of innocence onto her face. "I never..."
"Don’t even try," Nathaniel interrupted her sharply. "Aren’t you tired of lying?"
Riya squirmed in her seat, her palms damp, her legs stiff. She forced another denial past her lips. "I didn’t... I don’t know who told you such lies. But I would never do something like that."
"Still denying?" Nathaniel’s fury sharpened into something merciless. "I have proof."
The ground beneath her seemed to vanish.
’Proof?’ her mind screamed.
Panic rose like bile. Had Nathaniel somehow found Jaxon? But no—impossible. Jaxon was hidden in a place Zachary had arranged. Even the police had failed to locate him. How would Nathaniel find him?
"What proof are you talking about?" she snapped back, clinging to her last scrap of defiance. "Don’t throw accusations at me."
Nathaniel’s expression hardened further as his hand slid into his pocket. "You bribed that waitress," he spat. "You thought no one would see you. But you were wrong."
He drew out his phone and, with a deliberate motion, held it up.