Chapter 80: A gift from Nathaniel
Zara turned, and her eyes landed on the vibrant red roses. A flicker of surprise mixed with disbelief passed over her face. It was the first time he had ever brought her flowers, though they weren’t her favorite.
Red roses had always been Nora’s favorite. She had loved them so much that nearly every vase in the house had been filled with them. Sometimes she had allowed Zara to place daisies around the house, but never without adding her signature roses to the arrangement.
As those memories stirred, Zara’s lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile.
Nathaniel’s heart sank a little, his smile fading. That wasn’t the reaction he had hoped for. He had imagined her smiling brightly, maybe thanking him. But instead, her response was subdued, almost distant.
"Don’t you like them?" he asked hesitantly, bracing himself for disappointment.
"I love them," she said softly, finally taking the bouquet from his hand. "Thank you."
Relief settled over Nathaniel, loosening the tension in his chest. "Wait, have something else for you."
Something else?
Zara blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected more. Flowers alone had caught her off guard, but he had bought her a gift too! Her curiosity piqued. She was to find out what he had brought for her.
Nathaniel reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small jewelry box. With a flick, he opened it.
A pair of diamond studs peeked out from the box, sparkling under the light.