Chapter 71: Nathaniel’s fear
Nathaniel stepped toward them, one step at a time, his eyes never leaving Zara’s.
The entire drive back, he had wrestled with one question: ’Would she speak with me? Would she even look at me?’
After everything she had said, he had assumed she wouldn’t even want to look at him. But now, as their eyes met, he could sense something was different, that something in her had changed.
The fire that once burned in her eyes had softened. The sharp edge in them was gone. In its place was something quieter... more thoughtful. He couldn’t tell if it was forgiveness or simply exhaustion, but it made his chest loosen a little.
Was it because Zane was here? Or had something shifted while he was gone?
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Paulina’s voice sliced through the quiet.
"Where have you been?"
He turned to her, surprised by the firm note in her tone.
"I expected you to be here," she continued, her expression laced with disappointment. "Instead, Zara’s friend was the one sitting by her side. Where did you rush off to so early?"
Nathaniel tensed. He could see the criticism in his grandmother’s eyes, and worse, when he glanced back at Zara, the same unspoken question lingered in hers.
Was she doubting him again?