Reclaimed By My Ex-husband-Chapter 307: Nathaniel was awake

The door finally opened, and a doctor stepped out, his eyes immediately finding them.

Zara and Liam rushed forward.

"What happened?" Zara asked anxiously. "Why did his condition change? Is he alright?"

The doctor nodded calmly. "Coma patients sometimes experience convulsions. He is stable now."

"Is there... any sign that he might wake up?" Liam asked carefully.

The doctor let out a quiet sigh. "I can’t give you a definite answer. Everything now depends on his will. There is no trace of poison in his bloodstream, but the toxin has weakened his body significantly. It may take a longer time for him to come out of the coma."

Zara’s heart sank at his words. She longed to see Nathaniel open his eyes, to hear his voice again. But even so, she told herself she could endure anything, as long as he was alive, breathing.

"Please... just keep him alive," she begged. "I don’t care how long it takes for him to wake up. I can wait."

The doctor looked at her with sympathy. "We are doing everything we can. In the meantime, keep talking to him. Encourage him. Let him feel that someone is waiting for him. That connection may help pull him back."

Zara’s chest tightened painfully. She had done the opposite. She had threatened to leave him, to take the children away.

’That’s why he convulsed, she thought. I hurt him.’

Tear of guilt blurred her vision.

"I understand," she whispered, quickly wiping them away. "I’ll keep him motivated."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A month slipped by quickly. The Shay Walsh fashion event was now in full swing, drawing the city’s elite under one roof. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as guests admired the showcased collections. Among them all, it was Zara’s wedding gown designs that captured the most attention.

Whispers of admiration followed each piece. Guests openly praised her creativity, eager to catch a glimpse of the rising designer behind the stunning work.

At last, the host announced her name, inviting her to the stage.

Zara stepped forward, offering a graceful wave to the crowd.

"Everyone, this is Zara, our exceptionally talented emerging designer," the host declared.

Applause filled the hall.

"Your designs are breathtaking," the host continued warmly. "What inspired you?"

She held the microphone toward Zara.

Zara’s face lit up with a soft smile. "Designing has always been my passion. Becoming a designer was my dream, and today, I’m fortunate enough to be living it."

"Well said," the host replied. "You are now a recognized name in the industry. Countless designers dream of collaborating with Shay Walsh, and here you are, his partner. It’s truly remarkable. I can see exactly why he chose you."

Zara blushed, her smile widening at the praise.

"Speaking of Shay Walsh," the host went on, "he is famously elusive, always avoiding the spotlight. Have you actually met him? I mean, you are business partners now. Surely, he is not hiding from you, too?"

Zara chuckled softly. "Not at all. He is not just my business partner, he is my idol, my mentor, and most importantly, a dear friend. He has no reason to hide from me."

She paused, then added with quiet confidence, "And I believe he no longer needs to hide from the public either."

She turned toward the audience. "Please welcome... Shay Walsh."

And in that moment, the enigmatic designer finally stepped onto the stage, revealing himself to the world.

Gasps rippled through the hall. Shock seized the crowd. Murmurs erupted instantly. Nearly everyone present recognized him. No one had expected the heir of the Lawson family to be standing there as Shay Walsh.

"It’s Liam Lawson," someone exclaimed.

"The Lawson Group’s heir," another voice echoed. "I can’t believe he is actually Shay Walsh."

The whispers grew louder and more frenzied by the second.

Liam took the microphone from the host, his expression calm. "I know many of you have been curious about Shay Walsh’s identity. I chose to stay out of the public eye." His gaze shifted toward Zara, and he gestured to her. "But my friend here wanted me to step forward. So... here I am."

Thunderous applause filled the venue once again.

Zara joined in, clapping along. The show was a success. More than that, it marked the first time her designs had been showcased under her own name.

Yet amid the celebration, a quiet ache settled into her heart. Her smile wavered.

She wished Nathaniel were there, watching her, sharing this moment with her. But he wasn’t beside her. He was still in the hospital, trapped in a coma.

She didn’t know how long it would last.

Every day, she waited for him to wake up. She spoke to him endlessly about Zane, about the baby growing inside her, hoping he could hear her, believing he would respond someday. But all she ever received was silence.

The sadness lingered, yet she refused to surrender to despair. She believed he would open his eyes eventually. Still, the waiting hurt.

"Hey," Liam’s gentle voice pulled her back to the present. "Are you alright?"

She blinked away the tears and forced a smile. "Yeah. I’m fine. I’m just... overwhelmed."

"I figured." Leaning closer, he lowered his voice. "I have a gift for you. It’s in the green room. Why don’t you go take a look first?"

"Gift?" Zara echoed, startled. "What gift?"

"A surprise," he replied with a playful wink. "You should see it for yourself."

She shot him a sideways look, puzzled by his secrecy. Curiosity stirred. What exactly had he prepared for her? After a brief pause, she nodded. "Alright. I’ll go check."

Zara stepped off the stage, Liam’s mischievous smile lingering in her thoughts. Shaking her head, she made her way toward the green room.

The instant she pushed the door open and walked inside, her steps faltered.

A tall figure stood by the window, his back to her.

Her breath caught. Her heart skipped violently.

That silhouette—she knew it too well. Even in a sea of strangers, she would recognize him without hesitation.

’It’s him.’ Her mind screamed the name she had whispered a thousand times in silent prayers.

’Nathaniel.’

She couldn’t believe he was there, standing only a few feet away.

"You—"

He turned, a wide smile spreading across his lips.

Zara’s hands flew to her mouth as tears welled up. ’This isn’t a dream, is it?’ she whispered to herself, afraid that if she blinked, he might vanish. ’It’s really you?’

He walked toward her, unhurried, every step deliberate. His gaze traced over her. "You look beautiful," he said softly, stopping right in front of her. "My dear wife."

She stared at him through blurred vision. It felt as though she was seeing him for the very first time. She couldn’t take her eyes away from him.

For an entire month, there hadn’t been a single moment when she hadn’t longed to see him standing before her, speaking her name. And now he was here – on his feet, smiling at her. Yet her voice failed her completely.

All she could do was stare.

Nathaniel stepped closer, lifting his hand to gently brush away the tears trailing down her cheeks. "I missed you," he murmured.

The warmth of his touch made Zara’s chest ache. She clasped his hand and pressed her face into his palm, grounding herself in the feel of him. It was not a dream.

"I missed you, too," she whispered.

"I heard you," he said, cradling her face. "Every word you spoke. I wanted to answer you so badly, but I couldn’t. I was fighting, every single moment."

Zara broke down, her sobs spilling free.

"I waited for your voice every day," he went on. "Whenever you were there, I found the strength to push back the darkness. And when I finally opened my eyes, the first thing I wanted was you. Then Mom told me about this event... and I decided to surprise you."

"You really did," she said through her trembling voice. "In the best way."

"That was the plan." He bent down and captured her lips.

Zara melted instantly, rising onto her toes as she kissed him back, her arms sliding around his neck.

"I love you, Zara," he breathed against her lips.

She let out a soft, breathless laugh. She had waited so long to hear those words.

"Will you let me chase you again?" he asked quietly. "Let me win your heart all over?"

"Yes," she answered without hesitation. "I want to fall for you again and again."

"Thank you." He kissed her once more, then pulled back just enough to add urgently, "I’ll never stop trying to make you happy."

Then he kissed her again, deeper, fiercer, filled with all the longing he had carried. "God... I missed this so much."

They clung to each other, kissing as if time no longer existed, as if letting go was no longer an option.

"Ahem... why don’t you take this somewhere more private? I’ve already booked a room for you."

They broke apart at once and turned toward the doorway, where Liam stood with an amused expression.

Zara’s cheeks warmed. "So this was the surprise you were talking about. You knew all along..."

Liam nodded. "Yes. He called me."

She spun toward Nathaniel, disbelief flashing in her eyes. "You contacted him, but not me? Do you have any idea how heartbroken I was standing on that stage?"

"I was there," Nathaniel said calmly. "Watching the entire show. You were stunning. I was so proud of you, Zara. I wanted to shout it out to tell everyone, look at her, that brilliant designer... she is my wife."

"You watched it..." Emotion flooded her.

"Not the whole thing," he admitted softly. "Just you. I couldn’t take my eyes off you."

Her heart fluttered uncontrollably. She realized, with startling clarity, that she was falling for him all over again.

They stared at each other like the rest of the world had ceased to exist. When Nathaniel leaned in as if about to kiss Zara again, Liam threw his hands up dramatically.

"Oh, come on—not again," he groaned. "I’m still standing right here. And I’m very much single, you know. You two are making me jealous."

Nathaniel shot him a cool look. "Then find yourself someone." He turned back to Zara. "Let’s go home. I have so much to tell you."

Sliding an arm around her waist, he guided her out, leaving Liam behind with a helpless shake of his head.