The second choice who became his first

The truth comes out

Chapter 15

Zachary’s POV

I drove straight to Ivanka’s apartment.

I was furious.

Not because she had argued with Nathalie.

But because she had deliberately gone to Nathalie’s workplace, provoked her, recorded the incident, and then edited the footage to make herself look like the victim.

I knocked hard on the door.

It opened a few seconds later.

Ivanka smiled when she saw me.

“Zachary.”

“What the hell were you thinking?”

Her smile disappeared.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t do that.”

I held up my phone.

“I’ve seen the full video.”

She froze.

“What video?”

“The one you conveniently didn’t post.”

Her face changed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You went to Nathalie’s mall with your friends.”

She remained silent.

“You deliberately provoked her.”

“Zach—”

“And then you edited the video to make it look like she attacked you.”

“I didn’t—”

“Enough!”

She flinched.

“You have no idea what you’ve done.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I was just hurt.”

“You were hurt?”

I laughed bitterly.

“So your solution was to destroy my wife’s reputation?”

“She took you away from me!”

“No, Ivanka.”

I stared at her.

“You left me.”

She shook her head.

“I made a mistake.”

“And now you’re trying to punish Nathalie for it?”

She looked away.

“You don’t understand how much I love you.”

I sighed.

“I do understand.”

She looked back at me.

“But I’m married, Ivanka.”

Her face crumbled.

“And Nathalie is my wife.”

I turned around and walked away.

“Zachary!”

I stopped but didn’t turn around.

“Please don’t leave me.”

My jaw tightened.

“I can’t keep doing this.”

Then I walked away.

⸻

Nathalie’s POV

The next morning, I returned to the mall.

I wasn’t going to let Ivanka chase me away from something I had barely started.

The moment I entered, several employees greeted me.

“Good morning, Mrs. Vaughn.”

“Good morning.”

The manager approached me.

“Good morning, ma’am. Everything is ready for you.”

I smiled.

“Thank you.”

I walked through the mall, checking a few things before settling into the office.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed being there.

For the first time in days, my mind wasn’t completely occupied by Zachary and Ivanka.

I was actually doing something for myself.

My phone suddenly buzzed.

A message from my mother.

Mom: How’s your first day going?

I smiled and typed back.

Me: It’s actually fun. Don’t worry, I’m not working too hard.

Another message came immediately.

Mom: Good. Remember, you’re pregnant. Rest whenever you need to.

I laughed softly.

I put my phone down and looked around the office.

Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

⸻

Zachary’s POV

When I got home, I found Nathalie’s things missing from the bedroom.

I frowned.

“Where’s Nathalie?”

Aunt Mina looked at me.

“She went to the mall.”

“The mall?”

“Yes. Today is her first official day working there.”

I stared at her.

“She started already?”

Aunt Mina nodded.

“She said she wants something to keep her busy.”

I walked upstairs.

For some reason, I suddenly wanted to see her.

I picked up my phone and stared at her name.

I wanted to call.

But what would I say?

I had spent so long pushing her away.

Now that she was slowly becoming distant, I was the one wanting to get closer.

I sighed.

Maybe Greyson had been right.

Maybe I had taken Nathalie’s love for granted.

And maybe I was finally beginning to realize that I didn’t want to lose her.