Zara returned from dropping Zane off at school. Just as she reached for the bedroom door, a voice from inside made her freeze.
"Do you love her?"
Her hand stilled midair. Every beat of her heart drummed against her ribs, wild and eager, desperate to hear Nathaniel's answer. She leaned closer, straining to catch even the faintest sound.
But Nathaniel was silent.
Her lips parted slightly in disbelief. Why wasn't he saying anything? It wasn't a difficult question. Yet he delayed answering it as if he was hesitating. His silence grew unbearable, crushing the fragile hope she had clung to.
Her hand reached for the doorknob, ready to push it open, to face him and demand an answer. But Nathaniel's voice halted her.
"You are here to check on me. But you keep asking questions. Do you know how much my head is hurting?"
His words, full of irritation, struck her like ice water.
