I could not make out what Yasmine was saying on the phone anymore as it slipped from my hand. Time seemed to slow down in an instant. Out of habit, I walked to my study and looked at the various case files spread across the desk. A bitter feeling welled up in my heart. It felt as if all the documen
I did not let go. The anger and resentment suppressed in my heart slowly grew from the moment I saw him. It was not until I tasted blood did I felt a hint of vengeful satisfaction. Nicholas endured the pain with fierce eyes. His handsome face was dark and covered with a terrifying layer of ice. Ev
Nicholas, who usually remained impassive no matter what happened, trembled for a moment. His face darkened. Though his lips moved, no words came out. Sometimes, silence was the best answer. "Just go. You've already driven me to the brink. What else can I fear from you?" I paused. My tears were not
Pregnant? Could I be carrying Nicholas's child? I did not know what the point of our marriage still was, or why I should bear his child. But in my near-unconscious state, my arm instinctively retreated under the blanket. Yasmine seemed to understand something. She whispered in my ear, "Ariana, we'
On the phone, Frances' voice sounded kind, but it was easy to hear a hint of sadness beneath her forced tone. "Ariana, where are you?" I knew that Frances would not call me unless something was wrong, especially with such a gentle attitude. But it would not be right for me to be too aggressive beca
As my hand curled involuntarily, a sudden pain shot through my lower abdomen. "Ariana, are you surprised? You didn't expect this, did you? You really thought Nick wouldn't look after me?" Claudia's smug voice sounded like a demon's, which made my body recoil in discomfort. But with Frances and Dan
Daniel emphasized the words "Do you have the heart" heavily. Tears even fell from his sunken eyes. He said, "Ariana, I still like you very much, and I feel quite sorry for you. But… you can't have children..." My hand instinctively covered my tummy. I did not know what the things inside me should
Daniel chuckled and said, "You underestimated how determined a man can get when he wants something. He wanted a family, so it was only natural that he went all out to get it."Disappointment slowly filled my heart. It was truly pitiable because I wasn't the wife Nicholas wanted. However, he was the
Nicholas' body was trembling uncontrollably. I tried to pull him up from the floor, but my strength wasn't enough.I crouched down in front of him, cupping his face with both hands. "Don't cry. It's all in the past now."Nicholas tightened his grip, and I instinctively closed my eyes. I lost my bala
As soon as the words fell, the room was enveloped in a deathly silence."W-What did you just say?"Nicholas gripped my shoulders and spun me around. I felt as if my body was about to fall apart.His voice was hoarse as he let out a painful growl. "Say it again! How could this happen? I drank those t
The timing wasn't right. No matter what Nicholas said, I couldn't hear a word of it. Right now, all I could think about was how I'd face him tomorrow or every day after that.Everything happening now was too much for our current relationship. I couldn't be sure if he'd want to take things further af
For some reason, hearing Nicholas say this made me feel both anxious and afraid. I feared it might be a trap, that if I relaxed even slightly, I would fall back into the mud. The completely enclosed space made it hard to breathe, and I desperately wanted to leave."Nicholas, you…" It felt awkward to
I swiftly pressed my palm against Nicholas' forehead, silently confronting him.The skin he'd kissed still burned, and his gaze felt like molten lava. Just meeting his eyes sent waves of heat coursing through me, leaving my blood trembling and roiling.The hospital's air conditioning was top-notch,
I held the bag Nicholas handed me. Holding it felt unbearable, but throwing it away seemed even worse.This was like holding a ticking time bomb. When I finally spoke, my voice was hoarse. "Nicholas, it doesn't have to be full…""And how do you know I can't fill it in one go?"I was so shocked that
Nicholas said, "It's you who insisted I get checked. You've got to help me, right?"He pushed me into the examination room and pinned me against the door, locking it with a swift motion.His bold move left me drenched in cold sweat. "Are you crazy? There are still people around!"How could he do thi
The doctor quickly nodded. "Of course. Our entire medical team is at your service. We'll immediately prepare the necessary equipment.""Go ahead." Nicholas gave the command without even blinking.I couldn't help but think about how much influence he had. They were even arranging medical equipment on
"Check-up." Nicholas bit the words, glaring at me with frustration. "Do you even know what the check-up is?"I was stunned. "Are you asking me? Let the doctor come in and explain it to you, I'm not sure!"I stood up and headed toward the door, but he caught my wrist before I could reach it. His eyes