Reclaimed By My Ex-husband-Chapter 82: Dinner date

Nathaniel and Zane were already dressed and waiting in the living room.

"I’m so happy tonight!" Zane beamed, bouncing on his toes with excitement.

Nathaniel chuckled at his enthusiasm. "Really? It’s just dinner. What is making you this thrilled?"

"Because you are coming with us. It’s the first time you are taking us out to dinner, and that makes it special."

Nathaniel’s smile faltered. The joy in his son’s voice struck a deep chord in his chest.

For years, he had buried himself in work, using it as a shield to avoid Zara. In the process, he had unknowingly pushed his son away, too. He hadn’t been there for Zane’s school functions, or even simple moments when his son had just wanted to play or talk.

Guilt churned in his stomach. He wrapped his arms around Zane. "I’ll spend more time with you now. We’ll go out more often, all three of us."

Zane looked up at him, surprised and overjoyed. "Really, Daddy?"

Nathaniel nodded solemnly. "Yes."

Zane’s smile dimmed a little as he added innocently, "But Mommy said your work is important. She told me not to disturb you." Then, he smiled again. "It’s okay. You can go on your business trips. I won’t bother you. Mommy stays with me."

Those words pierced Nathaniel even deeper. How often had Zara tried to fill both roles, shielding Zane from disappointment, making excuses for his absence?

He hugged his son tighter. "Not anymore," he whispered. "Now I know what really matters. I’ll come home early, play with you, and we’ll go out and do something fun every weekend."

"Promise?"

Nathaniel gave a reassuring nod. "Promise."

Footsteps echoed down the staircase, drawing their attention.

Zane’s eyes lit up as he grinned. "Mommy."

Nathaniel stilled in his place, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe.

Zara descended the stairs gracefully, each step making Nathaniel’s heart thud louder in his chest. She wore an ivory dress that hugged her curves elegantly. Her hair was swept into a loose bun, a few strands curling softly around her face. The makeup she wore masked the bruises but highlighted her natural beauty. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Nathaniel was used to seeing her in simple clothes around the house, bare-faced, her hair tied back casually. But now, she looked different.

He slowly stood up, unable to take his eyes off her. For a brief moment, he thought she looked like Nora. The only difference was – Zara wasn’t wearing glasses.

As Zara reached the bottom of the stairs, Zane eagerly rushed over. "Daddy said he’ll come home early now and take us out every weekend."

Zara raised a brow, caught off guard. "Really?" She turned her gaze to Nathaniel. "And do you believe him?" she asked with unmistakable doubt.

Nathaniel saw the skepticism etched in her gaze. But he was ready to prove that he was willing to change.

’For Zane, for me,’ he murmured in his head.

Before Zane could respond, he stepped closer. "I missed out on years with both of you. I know that. But I’m here now. And I want to make things right."

Zara could hardly believe this was the same man who used to treat her with cold indifference. This was the same Nathaniel who once told her not to call him at work, who never spared time for family outings, and who buried himself so deep in meetings and business trips that she and Zane had learned to handle everything alone.

And now, he was talking about weekends together?

Zara couldn’t help but wonder how long this change would last. How long could he act like his work no longer came first? She had seen it before: just one phone call, and he would drop everything to rush back to the office. Despite her uncertainty, she saw the effort he was making, and part of her heart softened. And for that, she was willing to give him a chance.

"Since you’re saying all this, just don’t let us down," she warned, her eyes holding a quiet challenge.

Nathaniel didn’t miss it. He leaned in close, his voice brushing against her ear. "I won’t. I’ll erase every complaint you have ever had and keep you satisfied."

His suggestive tone, coupled with the playful glint in his eyes, sent a shockwave through her. His words curled around her like heat, settling deep in her stomach and igniting sparks that made her skin prickle. Her cheeks turned red, and she quickly looked away.

’What has gotten into him?’ she thought, flustered. ’Since when does he flirt like this, not even caring about Zane’s presence?’

She instinctively stepped back to put some space between them, but before she could move far, his arm snaked around her waist and pulled her toward him. She froze, startled, and snapped her eyes back to his face, her heart racing as his closeness stirred a mess of emotions inside her.

"Shall we go now?" he asked innocently, as if completely unaware of how his nearness and playful teasing had left her flustered. Without waiting for a response, he took Zane’s hand and stepped ahead, leading them out the door.

Zara trailed behind, almost in a trance, her gaze locked on him. This was the first time they were going out together for dinner as a family. A quiet excitement stirred in her chest.

She wasn’t sure how long this new side of him would last, whether it was real or just a fleeting illusion. But if it was a dream, she hoped it would never end.

They arrived at a cozy, upscale restaurant nestled at the heart of the city. A waiter greeted them and led them to a private corner table beside a large window.

Zane hopped onto his seat with boyish excitement. Zara sat across from Nathaniel, still slightly unsettled by his earlier behavior. Nathaniel, on the other hand, looked completely at ease, leaning back in his chair with that composed, confident air of his.

As the waiter approached with menus, Nathaniel said, "I’ll handle the order."

"We’ll start with a creamy tomato basil soup," he told the waiter, "and some garlic butter rolls. For the main course, we’ll have grilled chicken with mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans.

"I want pizza," Zane said.

Nathaniel nodded. "Cheese pizza and fries for him. Add pan-seared salmon with roasted vegetables."

The waiter noted it down. "And drinks?" he asked.

"Two glasses of red wine," Nathaniel replied, "and apple juice for my son." He glanced at Zara. "What do you like for dessert?"

"I want ice cream," Zane said before Zara could reply.

"Alright." Nathaniel chuckled.

"A slice of chocolate lava cake and vanilla ice cream."

As the waiter left, Zane’s eyes wandered to the large floor-to-ceiling window. Outside, he saw a cart brimming with soft toys in all shapes and colors. His face lit up instantly. "Wow, so many toys! I want one..."

"Zane, what did I tell you?" Nathaniel’s voice cut in sharply. "No nagging, remember?"

Zane’s excitement faded. He lowered his gaze, lips pushing into a sulky pout. "I remember."

Zara shot Nathaniel a glare, clearly not pleased with his tone. When she turned to Zane, her face softened into a warm smile. "Let’s finish our dinner first. Once we are done, we’ll go have a look at the toys together."

Zane’s smile returned. "Okay, Mommy."

Soon, the food was served and they began eating in quiet. Gradually, light conversations and the occasional smile broke the silence between them.

Across the restaurant, Riya stepped in alongside her manager, ready for a scheduled dinner meeting with a client. But her feet stalled the moment her eyes landed on a familiar figure. There, at a corner table, sat Nathaniel. Surprisingly, Zara was with him, and Zane was laughing heartily.

’What the hell is he doing with them?’ she screamed in her mind.