Chapter 13: Did she truly hate him?
The moment Zara and Nathaniel stepped inside, Zane’s voice rang out with pure joy, "Mommy, Daddy!" His tiny feet pattered toward them in excitement.
"Wait—careful." Nathaniel quickly extended his arm protectively to stop Zane before he could reach Zara. "Your mommy is hurt."
Zane froze, his cheerful expression instantly shifting to concern. "Mommy? You are hurt?"
Zara offered him a reassuring smile. "Just a small sprain, sweetheart. Nothing serious."
Before Zane could say more, a stern voice cut through the room. "How did you get hurt?"
They turned toward the hallway to see Paulina, the family’s formidable matriarch, stepping into the living room with Gracie by her side. Her sharp eyes immediately zeroed in on Zara, then narrowed at Nathaniel.
"Did this brat trouble you?" she asked, throwing Nathaniel a look of pure disapproval.
Nathaniel gasped dramatically. "Grandma, really?"
"I’m alright, Grandma," Zara said, attempting to defuse the tension.
Paulina waved off her words with a dismissive flick of her hand. "Don’t defend him. I know exactly how he is." She gave Nathaniel one last withering look before barking another command. "Don’t just stand there. Get her to the room."
"I’m coming too," Zane chimed, eager to follow.