In the hospital, Nicholas Hawk stood out conspicuously in the crowd with his tall stature and long legs."You don't need to be here. Go home," I heard him say as soon as I squeezed through. The bag in my hand left my grasp.Nicholas' stepsister was admitted to the hospital late at night. It seemed m
My gaze fell on Nicholas' pants draped over the bed. The loose waistband was twisted into what looked like a crying face. The black phone peeking out from one corner seemed depressing.In our married life, I valued both love and privacy. We respected each other's personal space and never touched eac
Nicholas had his phone propped up on the watch display cabinet and nestled between two watch boxes. One hand gripped the edge of the cabinet, while the other moved swiftly below his waist. Not far from him lay the gray bath towel he had kicked aside. Although most of his body was obscured, it was e
I used to love watching melodramatic TV shows, so I had a pretty good idea of the destructive allure of first love in a man's life. The more unattainable she was, the more he wanted her. For Nicholas and Claudia, societal norms meant they could never be together. The Hawk family was too prestigious
I rubbed my forehead as tears brimmed in my eyes. I looked up and realized that I hadn't bumped into a wall. Instead, I bumped into Nicholas' solid chest."I wouldn't go bankrupt even if I had to employ a billion housekeepers like Wendy to keep you fed," Nicholas said. Nicholas hid his emotions wel
"Clearly, he doesn't love me," I thought when I heard Nicholas say those words. It seemed that once I saw things clearly, I could find evidence of how he didn't love me everywhere. Nicholas had no patience left for me. I fixed my gaze on Nicholas as if trying to see through him. However, I looked
Frances was delighted. The family was having a harmonious dinner at the table when she went to her room and returned with a pair of emerald earrings for me.I held the earrings obediently and praised them effusively until I noticed that Claudia's expression had darkened. At that moment, I placed the
If the entire family knew about Nicholas and Claudia's affair, then I was merely used as a shield to maintain the Hawk family's reputation!I accepted the gift quietly and exchanged a few pleasantries before seeing her out. With my trust in Nicholas broken, I could no longer trust anyone else wholeh
Nicholas' expression was devoid of emotion, his voice chilling like ice."No, I want to say this. I know she wants to see you, but more than that, she's scared. I understand that fear—that crushing loneliness that magnifies when you're not there for her. She hasn't been sleeping well, plagued by nig
Nicholas let out a low chuckle, his voice carrying a hint of weariness. "I can let you in, but don't say I didn't warn you—once you step inside, I won't let you leave again."My expression darkened. He must be out of his mind! What era did he think we were living in to pull something like this?"Nic
Setting everything else aside, Nicholas' attitude was like a ticking time bomb.Today, he might argue with Claudia and ignore her. Tomorrow, if they made up, Yasmine could easily become collateral damage in his efforts to please her.Someone like Nicholas, who had no limits, could do anything just t
Yasmine was still rambling and trying to persuade me, but I couldn't focus on a word she was saying. All I could think about was how to handle the mess between Nicholas and me.If he didn't know about Tabitha, I could simply take her and leave again. But now? It wasn't just about whether Nicholas w
Nicholas' words pierced my heart like needles, making even breathing painful.I struggled to catch my breath. After taking a deep breath, I lifted my gaze and stared at him intently."Nicholas, you once said that at your age, you didn't want to hear about love from me. Now, I'm at the age you were b
I recognized the man as Chief Jefferson. Back when Claudia framed me and got me arrested, I'd seen him a few times. He was still trying to smooth things over. "Did Captain Steele offend Mr. Hawk in some way?"He patted Neal's shoulder. "Neal, quickly apologize to Mr. Hawk. Mr. Hawk is known for bei
As the door opened, several gazes turned toward me."Ari, what are you doing here?" Yasmine quickly approached, taking my hand into hers and giving it a firm squeeze."Nicholas said you were unwell, and your face does look pale. You should head home and rest. I'll handle everything here."I gave her
The cries of "Nick" over the phone grew increasingly desperate. Yet, Nicholas just listened with a blank expression. He didn't offer any response or decision.I didn't feel much sympathy for Claudia. But in that moment, I understood the hope laced in her voice. Because I, too, was once someone who
An undercurrent of tension brewed in our gazes.Perhaps neither of us could convince the other to stand unwaveringly by our side, leaving both with a sense of disappointment.To me, Nicholas was being utterly unreasonable! Comparing this situation to what happened with Pete was absurd—they were worl