Chapter 224: Duty or love
Nathaniel’s glare hardened. The joy of his achievement and meeting with Augustine Bennet waned, replaced by fury. His hand curled into a fist, ready to strike again. But Liam’s next words halted him for that moment.
"You pushed me away, too, despite knowing how crazy I was about her. I even took up fashion design just to be closer to her. And you..."
He let out a pained, sarcastic laugh. "You were supposed to be my friend. You should’ve supported me, helped me win her heart. Instead, you warned me to stay away from her. I couldn’t believe it—you were willing to throw away our friendship just because I liked Zara. Tell me honestly, Nathaniel—were you already in love with her while you were still with Nora?"
Nathaniel’s rage only grew at that question. "You are crossing the line," he growled in a threatening way.
"That’s not an answer," Liam snapped back. "Be honest—did you have feelings for both sisters at the same time?"
"No!" Nathaniel barked. "I loved only Nora. I protected Zara because she was Nora’s sister, nothing more. I never had feelings for her. But I couldn’t stand seeing her hurt. The men who went after her weren’t right for her. And you..."
His gaze roved over Liam with full disdain. "You think you were serious about her? No, she was just a passing fling for you. You’d have toyed with her feelings for a while, then left her shattered. I couldn’t allow that. I looked after her because of Nora, not out of love. Our marriage wasn’t born from romance. It was Nora’s last wish."
"Then why don’t you let her go?" Liam demanded sharply. "You admit you don’t love her, that she is only a responsibility to you. Why keep her tied to you? She deserves love—real happiness."
Nathaniel scrunched up his face as he took a step toward Liam, leveling his glare head-on. "And who are you to tell me that?" he hissed. "I don’t need anyone dictating how to make my wife happy. She is my responsibility—mine alone. I know what she likes, what she needs, and how to keep her content. I don’t need your advice on how to handle my marriage."
Liam let out a cold, derisive laugh. "You’ve said a lot, but you’ve skipped over the most important thing." He gave a knowing nod as if he had understood something. "Yes—she is your responsibility. It’s your duty to look after her. But duty isn’t enough. Marriage isn’t built only on responsibility—it needs love. And you don’t love her."
The more he spoke, the more desperate he grew. "Why keep her trapped in something so hollow? Just let her go. Let her find someone who’ll truly love her, someone who’ll cherish her as his beloved, not as a burden you are obliged to carry."
Nathaniel gritted his teeth, fury rising within him. He wanted to punch him again, to shut him up, but he forced himself to stay composed because creating a scene in public wasn’t worth it.
"Stop dreaming," he muttered tightly. "I’m not leaving her. She is my wife, the mother of my child. She is in this marriage because she loves me and my son. Your tricks won’t sway her heart. She can never leave us."
He lifted his hand, spreading his fingers. "Five years," he said coldly. "For five years, she has stood by me, cared for my family without a single complaint. Her life revolves around me and Zane. She can’t live without us."
Reaching forward, Nathaniel straightened the collar of Liam’s jacket that he had grabbed moments ago. "Forget about Zara," he said quietly but firmly. "She’ll never be yours. You are marrying my sister now. Don’t do anything foolish that would disgrace either of our families. Understood?"
Liam didn’t respond right away. His eyes stayed fixed on Nathaniel. He had never truly liked Riya, nor had he ever intended to marry her. After noticing her closeness with Zachary, his determination to end things with her had only strengthened.
As for Zara – he had loved her once, deeply. He had planned to marry her after returning from abroad, once he had made something of himself. But that dream had fallen apart when she married Nathaniel.
Now, all he wanted was to see her happy. If she were truly content with Nathaniel, he would stay out of her life. But if there was even the slightest sign that she wasn’t, he wouldn’t let the opportunity slip away this time.
With renewed determination, he shoved Nathaniel’s hands aside.
"I can see how devoted she is to you," he muttered. "She took care of you and your family wholeheartedly. She treats Zane as her own. I’ll admit everything you’ve said is true. But have you ever stopped to wonder what she wants? Have you tried to understand her? Have you ever asked if she dreams of having a child of her own?"
Liam’s voice hardened. "I doubt it. You’ve never truly cared for her. To you, she is just someone who makes your life easier—silent, dependable, asking for nothing in return. And that’s why you are clinging to her. Not because you love her, but because you’ve grown used to her presence. You’ve turned her into a habit, Nathaniel. But you’ve forgotten—she is a living person, longs for love."
Love
This word again made Nathaniel pause and think. Whenever he thought of it, only one image surfaced in the back of his mind, and it was Nora, the woman who had saved him, pulling him out of the water. So, he was certain, he still loved Nora deeply.
What he felt for Zara, however, remained unclear. He didn’t know if it was love, but he knew she had become an essential part of his life. Without her, everything would feel empty. Ever since he had realized it, he had been trying his best to make amends—to keep her happy and fulfil every wish she had.
Even if it wasn’t love, he was sure of one thing: after Nora, Zara was the only woman he wanted by his side. And for her, he would do anything.
"I see," Nathaniel said with a cold sneer. "So, you’ve decided there is no love between Zara and me just because she hasn’t had a child of her own, because she is raising someone else’s. Let me make one thing clear—we’ll have children soon enough. Zara is someone I will never let go of. So don’t even think about coming between us. Or I might forget the bond our families share."
With that, he pivoted and strode out briskly, his expression drawn.
Liam stood there, watching his departing form with a sneer on his face. "Nathaniel, you bastard. You are the same as before."
He also walked out of the café, dialing a familiar number. As the call connected, he said in a serious tone, "Dad, I need to see you."
"Why? What now? Is this about the presentation? Don’t tell me you messed it up," came his father’s sharp, cutting voice, instantly grating on Liam’s nerves.
Liam grimaced and held the phone slightly away. "Why do you always assume I’ll screw something up?" he shot back. "I take my work seriously."
"Sure, sure," his father replied dismissively. "Anyway, it’s late. If it’s not about the presentation, we’ll talk tomorrow."
"It’s more important than the presentation," Liam said quickly before the call could be cut. "It’s about my marriage with Riya. I found out something you need to know."
There was a brief silence before his father spoke again, his voice more measured this time. "Alright. Come over. I’ll be waiting."
On the other side, Nathaniel’s face darkened as he made his way through the lobby, Liam’s words echoing in his mind. He couldn’t shake them off. It was true he had come to realize how important Zara was to him, but he still couldn’t tell if what he felt was genuine love or merely a sense of duty as her husband. And what troubled him even more was the question of what Zara truly felt for him.
Did she still love him?
She had once confessed her love and promised she would always be loyal to him, but he hadn’t taken her seriously at the time. Hearing Liam’s remarks, unease crept into his heart. What if her feelings had changed?
How could he forget how Zara had demanded a divorce? He had seen her desperation. She had been ready to leave, even if it meant parting from Zane, the boy she had raised as her own.
This thought made him restless. Nathaniel had a feeling that someone was squeezing his heart. The idea of Zara losing her love for him was unbearable.
A pang of regret twisted his gut. It was his mistake, his fault. Why had he neglected her all those years?
He had given her cold shoulders, showing no concern for what she felt. Now, another man wanted to claim her, challenging him. Though he had warned him to stay away from Zara, he was afraid Liam wouldn’t stop pursuing Zara.
What if Zara started seeing Liam differently and developed feelings for him after knowing he had been in love with her for so many years? What if Liam managed to sway her heart and turn her against him?
The thought made his breath quicken. ’I’ll never let Liam succeed in his plan,’ he resolved. ’Zara is mine. She can only love me.’
He clenched his fists as he strode into the elevator.