The second choice who became his first

Is it even worth it

Chapter 9

Zachary’s POV

I stared at Nathalie.

For the first time, I saw something in her eyes that I had never seen before.

Pure hurt.

Anger.

And beneath it all, tears she was desperately trying to hold back.

“Both of you should get out!” she shouted.

I frowned.

“Nathalie, quit being a brat. Just apologize to Ivanka. You know she has been through a lot.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I had gone too far.

Nathalie stared at me for several seconds.

Then she gave me a small, heartbreaking smile.

“Always Ivanka.”

Her voice trembled.

“Zachary, have you ever wondered what I’m going through?”

I remained silent.

She wiped away a tear.

“You’re always picking fights with me. I’m carrying your child, for God’s sake! Have you ever wondered what I go through every day?”

Her voice cracked.

“The morning sickness. The strange cravings. The fear. Everything!”

I looked at her stomach.

She placed a protective hand over it.

“Have you ever cared about me? About your child?”

I couldn’t answer.

“I will never apologize to her,” she said firmly. “So go ahead. Kill me.”

My heart stopped.

I had never seen Nathalie like this.

She had always been patient.

Always quiet.

But now she looked completely broken.

Then she whispered the words that shook me.

“I wish I had listened to you and aborted this child.”

My eyes widened.

“Don’t say that.”

But she continued.

“Because when he comes into this world, he’ll see exactly what kind of useless father he has.”

She turned and stormed out of the room.

I instinctively took a step after her.

“Nathalie—”

“Zachie…”

Ivanka’s voice stopped me.

I turned around.

She was standing behind me.

I looked toward the doorway where Nathalie had disappeared.

Something inside me told me to go after my wife.

But Ivanka reached for my hand.

I hesitated.

Then I picked her up gently and carried her toward the sofa.

Yet even as I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about Nathalie’s tear-filled eyes.

For the first time, her words wouldn’t leave my mind.

Have you ever cared about me?

⸻

Nathalie’s POV

I ran outside.

I didn’t know where I was going.

I just needed to get away.

I eventually collapsed beside the flower bed and covered my face with my hands.

“Is it even worth it?”

My voice broke.

I loved him.

God, I loved Zachary so much.

But how much longer could I continue loving someone who didn’t love me back?

I wished I could leave.

I wished I could stop caring.

But I couldn’t.

There was a part of me that still hoped that one day, he’d look at me the way he looked at Ivanka.

I stayed there for what felt like hours, crying until I had nothing left.

Eventually, I slowly stood up.

My legs felt weak.

I walked back toward the house in a daze.

Aunt Mina was waiting for me.

The moment she saw my face, she rushed toward me and pulled me into a tight hug.

I didn’t cry this time.

I simply rested my head against her shoulder.

She didn’t ask questions.

She just held me.

And somehow, that silence hurt even more.

Because deep down, I already knew the answer to the question I’d been asking myself.

Maybe loving Zachary was worth everything to me.

But was I worth anything to him?