A call to Nathaniel

After breakfast, the trio set out. Riya slid behind the wheel while Zane was safely buckled into the back seat. Zara leaned over to adjust his seatbelt, brushing his hair gently with a soft smile.

"I'll take you out when I come back from work," she whispered, planting a kiss on his forehead before climbing into the passenger seat.

"Shall we go now?" Riya asked, her hands already gripping the steering wheel.

"Yes, let's go," Zara replied with a calm smile.

Riya shot her a sideways glance, frowning slightly. Just a little while ago, Zara had been visibly tense, flustered—even defensive. But now, she looked composed, cheerful. That shift didn't sit right with Riya.

'What happened in those few minutes? What changed?' The ease in Zara's demeanor made her suspicious.