Chapter 4: A tormented marriage
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?"