"Say that again!" Mom's arm shot up as if ready to strike me, but Nicholas intervened from across the room."Brenda, Ariana and I have had some disagreements lately. I'll talk to her about it.""Oh! Was I interrupting your call? I'll go now. I didn't mean to keep you both." Mom hadn't expected Nicho
I first reinforced Nicholas' psychological defenses, then lowered his expectations to gain agreement. True to form, he agreed in a detached tone."I wouldn't lay a finger on you again even if you begged me to."I smiled triumphantly, though inside, I felt less than pleased. My smile faded and I quie
I should thank these two women. They'd given me a new perspective on my marriage. What I possessed, which was something others admired, wasn't what I truly desired. Despite my efforts to explain, they never trusted me and kept their distance.I gazed at them, realizing that words were futile, and as
Claudia and I didn't budge. Nicholas frowned and said icily, "You two sit at the back."I wondered silently if he truly wanted to reconcile with Claudia. His tone was surprisingly harsh. Since I had accepted his terms the day before, I withheld my anger to ensure I could live separately from him and
I had already run out of patience with today's conversation. The task was already completed, and it was time to bring this pointless dialogue to an end. "Don't worry, I've already spoken with Nicholas about—""Ariana!" Nicholas interrupted sharply."About what?" Claudia asked."We're almost there,"
I wasn't accustomed to handling such a large SUV. It felt unwieldy. Even though not everyone recognized the brand, the luxury of the Hawks' vehicle was unmistakable as it cruised down the road. I floored the pedal, and other cars started to veer aside. My attention was solely on the road ahead."Cl
In the bustling hospital, Nicholas stood out effortlessly. Tall and strikingly handsome, his presence commanded attention even as bloodstains marked his attire. Keeping a low profile was out of the question. I had always believed Nicholas treated me with respect. His manners were impeccable, especi
Nicholas shook his head, seemingly disappointed in me. He turned on his heel and walked away.I got up from the ground and called after him as he walked away. "I'll speak with the police and prove I have no connection to that man. You owe me an apology when this is resolved!"He paused and turned ba
Nicholas held one of Tabitha's outfits in his hands. It was so small it seemed no larger than a face towel he used to wash his face. He handled them with such care that his overflowing fatherly love seemed to seep into the fabric.I looked into his eyes earnestly and said, "You still have time to be
I pulled Nicholas' hands off my shoulders and turned silently to look out the window.The reflection in the car window showed his pain. I saw him open his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing.When we arrived at Coral Villa, the driver parked in front of the gate.As if eager to please me, Nichola
The drive back was silent and suffocating. Nicholas and I were separated by an invisible barrier, and neither of us dared to say another word to each other.His phone rang, breaking the oppressive quiet. After a few brief responses, he hung up and turned to me. "The police said her injuries are too
The sky had grown dark. A heavy feeling settled in my chest. I wanted to step out and get some air.Nicholas was still seething with anger at Claudia. But he refused to let go of me, holding my hand tightly.In a hoarse voice, I shook my head and said expressionlessly, "I'm not interested in her apo
Nicholas snapped, "Are you done yet?"He grabbed the vase next to him and hurled it at Claudia.The vase, though empty of flowers, still held water. It shattered against the wall with a crash, and shards of glass and water poured over Claudia's head.Claudia barely managed to hold her breath. She co
I fixed my gaze calmly on Claudia. "Alright. Go ahead. I'm listening."Nicholas abruptly shot to his feet, as if a dagger were pressed against his back. He stormed toward Claudia, his anger so palpable he looked ready to strangle her with his bare hands.I quickly pulled him back. "I promise, if any
Upon hearing Nicholas' words, I couldn't deny the twinge of emotion that stirred within me.Was this the misunderstanding Pete had hinted at between Nicholas and me? So Nicholas had actually cut ties with Claudia long ago?A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Had Nicholas not been with Claudia during t
Nicholas stared coldly at Claudia, who stubbornly met his gaze. No one else in the room reacted much."What else have you done? Tell me everything now, or the consequences will be worse if I find out later," Nicholas demanded, his tone sharp and commanding.Claudia bit her lip hard. It was hard to t
Nicholas walked over and stood behind me, his presence bringing a trace of sunlight and a hint of warmth. He gently wrapped his arms around my waist. The scent of sunlight was warm and pleasant, but I was inexplicably cold and trembled uncontrollably.Under Claudia's glaring, furious eyes, he reste