I saw Nicholas again at the welcome banquet Douglas had arranged for me.I, who had hurriedly left the country as Mrs. Hawk, was now back. Despite having once been ruthlessly criticized because of him, I had become the center of attention, the person everyone wanted to please.In the early days afte
"Long time no see, Nick!"A strong, yet restrained voice interrupted us, drawing both Nicholas's and my attention. The next second, a large hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me into a warm embrace.A girl gasped. "Isn't this the legendary Mr. Shelman? He's famous both at home and abroad!"I look
Pete looked at me in surprise. He reached out and gently ruffled my hair. Then, he said to Nicholas, "Ari and I have something to attend to, so we'll leave now. Let's catch up another time."He bent down and whispered into my ear, "Tabitha is waiting for you at home."My heart softened thinking of T
The car pulled up, but I couldn't open the door.Pete lowered the window and teased, "What kind of clumsy little fool are you? Put some strength into it!"I struggled with the oversized SUV he had somehow acquired, pulling at the door with all my might but to no avail.It was as though the man who h
Pete was already in his 30s. No matter how happy he felt, he could calm down within seconds.He set me down but didn't immediately let go of me. He leaned down, intending to place a kiss on my forehead."Pete Shelman," I called his name.Upon hearing his name, his movement froze, replaced by deep af
Nicholas's sudden appearance shattered the delicate hint of romance that had formed between Pete and me.Once the moment dissolved in the air, it was impossible to restore. Some topics were no longer suitable for a second discussion.He dropped me off at the Jones residence. He hesitated for a momen
I wanted to ask Nicholas why he was here, but my throat felt dry and sore, almost on the verge of burning.Nicholas didn't seem to be in a hurry to speak either. He lowered his eyes and lit a cigarette.Since his recovery, the black suit and pants had become his signature look. Had Claudia stopped d
"Is that so? If you're having trouble, Mr. Hawk, feel free to have a chat with my assistant. Given our past, I won't just ignore you."I understood Nicholas's sarcastic tone perfectly. I lowered my voice and added, "Even if it's a 30-year case, I'm confident I can handle it."He chuckled coldly and
I didn't want to stay under the same roof as Nicholas, so I took my laptop and went to sit in the courtyard.A while later, Nicholas found me. As he approached, the cool summer breeze swirled around him, carrying it to where he sat beside me."Tabitha finished eating, and her little belly's all roun
Back at Coral Villa, Tabitha had also returned.I carried Tabitha upstairs and started unpacking her things from the suitcase. She was thrilled.Nicholas walked over and squatted beside her. "Tabitha, Daddy and Mommy prepared these for you. Do you want to kiss Daddy and Mommy?"Tabitha stared at him
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