Chapter 97: A favor?
Zara’s face darkened with fury, her hands twitching at her sides. A sharp slap would have satisfied her, but she knew better than to cause a scene in front of so many eyes.
Riya was provoking her, clearly hoping to stir trouble, but Zara had no intention of giving her that satisfaction.
She steadied herself, swallowing the urge to beat her. "If Nathaniel wants to make amends, that’s a good thing. After all, I am his wife. The mother of his son. Who else would he support, if not me?"
Riya blinked, taken aback. That wasn’t the response she expected. She had come prepared for drama, anger, and violation. But what she got was Zara’s cool indifference and confident composure, which unsettled her.
"When he helps you, it’s called support," Zara continued. "But when it’s me, it’s called pity. Why the double standard?"
She took a step forward. Riya instinctively backed away, her spine stiffening. The look in Zara’s eyes was enough to make her nervous. She hadn’t forgotten how Zara had walloped her before. The sharp sound of that slap still seemed to echo in her ear.
"I’ve been his wife for five years," Zara added fiercely. "This is the first time he has actually done something for me. Why shouldn’t I take it? It’s my right."
Riya faltered, stepping back again, her earlier smugness vanishing.
"So let me make this clear," Zara stepped toward her further. "The next time you try to provoke me or poison my mind, I won’t just warn you. I’ll make sure you regret it."
She leaned in slightly, her gaze piercing through Riya. "I hope you remember the slaps."
Riya’s spine trembled.
"Don’t even think of coming between me and my husband." Without waiting for a response, Zara turned and walked past her, deliberately dashing her shoulder against Riya’s.