A Mother’s warning
451 Words
Chapter 35
The hospital room was filled with conversation, but Zachary remained unusually quiet.
His eyes stayed on Nathalie.
She was surrounded by the people who loved her—her parents, her siblings, and his own family.
Yet he felt strangely distant from her.
Elena noticed.
“Zachary,” she called.
He looked at his mother.
“Come with me.”
He followed her into the hallway.
The moment they were alone, Elena turned to him.
“What are you doing?”
Zachary frowned.
“Mom—”
“No.” Elena shook her head. “Listen to me.”
Her voice was firm.
“That woman inside that room is your wife. She is carrying your children. And despite everything you have done, she still loves you.”
Zachary lowered his eyes.
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
Elena stepped closer.
“You know she loves you. But you don’t understand what your actions have done to her.”
Zachary remained silent.
“You keep allowing Ivanka to come between you and Nathalie. Every time you prioritize Ivanka, you break something inside your wife.”
His jaw tightened.
“I never wanted to hurt Nathalie.”
“But you did.”
The words hit him hard.
Elena sighed.
“I defended Nathalie from the beginning because I saw something you refused to see.”
“What?”
“A woman who stayed when things became difficult.”
She paused.
“She didn’t marry you because she wanted your money. She didn’t stay because she was afraid of being alone. She stayed because she loved you.”
Zachary looked through the glass window toward Nathalie.
She was laughing softly with Samantha.
For a moment, his heart ached.
Elena continued.
“If you truly love Nathalie, then stop making her compete for your attention.”
Zachary swallowed.
“And Ivanka?”
Elena’s expression hardened.
“I don’t trust her.”
“You don’t believe her apology?”
“No.”
Zachary looked at his mother.
“Why?”
“Because I watched her apologize.”
Elena paused.
“And I saw the same thing you failed to notice.”
Zachary’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“She was smiling.”
His expression changed.
Elena continued quietly.
“Not a smile of regret. A smile of satisfaction.”
Zachary looked back toward the room.
For the first time, doubt entered his mind.
Had he been fooled again?
Inside the room, Nathalie glanced toward the glass.
Her eyes met Zachary’s.
Neither of them spoke.
But Nathalie gave him a small, gentle smile.
And somehow, that smile hurt him more than any accusation could have.
Because despite everything…
She still loved him.
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