Chapter 194: A dream
Nathaniel sat still, watching Zane, lost in coloring. Emotions swelled in his chest.
Zane had completely forgotten about Nora, his birth mother. Nora had already become a shadow, her presence fading like mist at dawn. To him, Zara was his mother.
It was good, but Nathaniel still felt a tug in his heart. It seemed as if Nora’s existence in their lives had been receding. Even in his mind, Nora had stopped appearing often.
Once, Nora had been everywhere—in his dreams, in the corners of his mind, in the hollow ache of his chest. He had lived inside her memory, clinging to the moments he had shared with her. He had spent hours staring at her photograph, drifting into a state of despair.
But now... things had changed.
Zara had crept into the cracks of his heart, breaking down the walls he had built around Nora’s memory. Where Nora’s face once lingered, now Zara’s smile appeared. Where her words once played in his mind, Zara’s laughter echoed.
It unsettled him. Nathaniel had the impression that Nora was finally leaving him.
"Daddy, take a look." Zane’s cheerful voice snapped him out of the haze. The boy held up the paper proudly, the drawing now vibrant with colors. His little face beamed with delight.
Nathaniel forced a small smile as he reached out to pat Zane’s head. "Good job. Go and play."
As Zane scampered off, Nathaniel stood and strode toward the bedroom, his steps heavy.
~~~~~~~~~~
After getting freshened up, he wandered into the study. Dropping into the chair, he pulled open the drawer and retrieved a photograph of Nora. His thumb gently traced her face, and his thoughts drifted back to the day he had asked her to marry him.
Flashback...
Nathaniel looked at the diamond ring in his hand, heart pounding so fiercely he could feel it in his throat. He had finally gathered his courage to propose to the woman he had been in love with since school.
He dialed her number. Each ring increased her nervousness.
His lips stretched widely as the call connected, and Nora’s voice filled his ear. "I am outside your office. Are you coming?"
"Wait a moment. I’ll be right there."
He slipped the phone into his pocket, lifted his gaze toward the building’s gate, and waited with bated breath.
Moments later, she appeared, her face radiant, her loose hair brushing against her jaw, swaying with each step. Her smile was like sunlight breaking through the clouds.
"Nathaniel..." She rushed over and threw her arms around his neck.
Nathaniel wrapped his arms firmly around her and lifted her off her feet, twirling around.
Nora giggled like a child.
As he set her back down, his face dipped close, his breath brushing her face.
"I love you."
"I love you too," she whispered back.
He cupped her face and kissed her, then pulled back with a playful sparkle in his eyes. "We’ve been together for so long, yet you still blush when I kiss you."
Nora’s smile brightened, her arms still draped around his neck. "That’s because every kiss makes me fall in love with you all over again."
"Is that so?" he teased.
"Mm-hmm." Nora nodded softly.
Nathaniel took her hands in his, gazing deeply into her eyes. His voice was shaking slightly with excitement and nervousness. "Come with me. I want to take you somewhere."
"Where to?" she asked curiously.
"You’ll find out soon enough." He opened the door for her, guiding her into the passenger seat before circling to the driver’s side. Moments later, the car sped down the road.
By the time they reached their destination, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon.
Nora’s eyes drifted to the lake ahead. "Why are we here?" she asked in confusion.
But when she turned back, her breath caught—Nathaniel was down on one knee. "Nathaniel!" she exclaimed in shock.
His hand trembled slightly as he held out the ring. "Nora, I’ve loved you for so many years. You are the only woman in my heart, and I want to keep you there forever. Will you marry me?"
Nora gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. "Yes, you idiot," she shouted with joy. "Who else would I marry if not you?"
Grinning, Nathaniel slipped the ring onto her finger and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I can’t wait to call you my wife. Let’s register our marriage tomorrow."
"Mm," she nodded, though her smile dimmed a bit. "But why did you choose this place to propose to me? You drove all the way out here into the suburbs. What’s so special about it?"
"Did you forget already? This is where I first met you."
Knock-knock...
The sound at the door snapped Nathaniel back to the present. He quickly straightened and slipped the photograph back into the drawer.
"Come in."
When the door opened and Zara stepped inside, he froze. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though Nora had returned to him. His chest tightened, his heart trembling at the illusion.
"You okay?" Zara’s voice cut through the haze. "Why are your eyes red? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No..." he turned his face aside, blinking away the tears that had just started gathering in his eyes. "I’m just... a little tired."
"Then you should rest early. Have dinner. Zane is waiting for you."
"I’ll join in a bit. You go ahead first."
Zara gave a small nod and left, though her expression was drawn with concern. ’Why does he seem so unsettled?’ she wondered to herself. ’Is he watching the surveillance again?’
Her curiosity stirred, and she made a mental note to ask him about it after dinner.
~~~~~~~~~~~
After dinner, once Zara tucked Zane into bed, her thoughts drifted back to Nathaniel. The memory of his silence throughout the meal left her uneasy. She could sense something was troubling him.
It wasn’t unusual—she had grown used to his brooding moods—but tonight, it gnawed at her restlessness.
’Is it because of the footage?’ she wondered. ’Or just the weight of work?’
When she was sure Zane had fallen soundly asleep, she headed to the master bedroom, expecting to find Nathaniel there. But the room was empty.
"Is he still working?" she murmured.
Driven by curiosity, she made her way to the study and knocked gently on the door.
"Go to sleep," Nathaniel’s voice came from inside. "I still have some work to finish."
Zara hesitated. She had wanted to tell him about her meeting with Shay and what he had revealed. She had even thought of asking him about the surveillance footage. But his words cut off her resolve.
"Alright, just don’t stay up too late," she said softly, even though she knew well he wouldn’t rest until he was done. "You need your sleep."
She lingered for a moment, waiting for a reply, but the silence stretched on. Lowering her gaze, she turned back toward the bedroom.
’I’ll talk to him later,’ she told herself.