Trouble in Paradise

I was all too aware of Nicholas's feelings for me, yet he pretended otherwise. If someone didn't know better, they might actually think he cared. His eyes held an unshakeable obsession, and I couldn't help but scoff at him.

"Nicholas, you can't stand to see me happy. There's a saying I didn't understand before, but now I do. Do you want to know what it is?"

Maybe he was acting too convincingly. In the next moment, I could almost hear something cracking.

Nicholas pulled back his arms, which were trembling behind his back. He took a deep breath and coldly replied, "I'm not interested in your thoughts."

I chuckled softly and reached out to touch the hair at his temple. My fingers grazed his cheek, and I could feel the stubble beneath them.

He quickly grabbed my hand, lifting it until it slammed against the car window. The sound was so loud that both of us froze.

For a full five seconds, pain shot through my hand, creeping along the nerves until it spread throughout my body.

It hurt! But maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed. Yet, for a moment, it felt as if my hand had gone numb. Otherwise, how could I not withdraw it when Nicholas was gently blowing on it? "Who told you to move?" Nicholas grumbled, rubbing my hand with a fierce look in his eyes.

His expression and actions felt utterly contradictory as if they shouldn't coexist in the same person, but I didn't care.

I used my other hand to gently lift his chin, staring intently at him. I told him, "That saying is, 'I now understand that many encounters in life are unnecessary"."

Our hands intertwined, and it was hard to tell whose was trembling. We both knew we were supposed to be insignificant in each other's lives, yet we had an impact that ran deep. Eventually, Nicholas let go.

Neither of us spoke. Overwhelmed by the sudden wave of emotion, we settled into silence.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

The car stopped at a restaurant I knew. It was located in a well-known business hotel. The dishes looked fancy but were hardly filling, and the drinks were outrageously priced. It was a popular spot for project meetings. Nicholas stepped out first, waiting for me at the entrance.

Inside the car, Beth said, "Mrs. Hawk, Mr. Hawk secured a great project for you. Just go in and discuss it with the other company. You won't earn less for this case than... um... your previous ones." "An economic case?"

Beth hesitated. "Sort of. Of course, it depends on what you're best at. From what I know, their company has a lot of issues, so you can just handle just part of it."

I smiled and pushed open the door to step out. I walked up to Nicholas and looked up at him. The colorful lights east various hues across his face, making it hard to read his expression or intentions.

"Got it? Then let's go in," he said, casually slipping his hand into his pocket.

"Nicholas, as we agreed, I can accompany you to social

1.n

engagements as a decorative piece, just eating and drinking. I won't acceptanything beyond that," called out to him just as he was about to step forward.

Nicholas frowned, his gaze drifting over my head to meet Beth's. I saw her shaking her head.

His brows furrowed deeper. He lowered his eyes and asked, "Didn't she make it clear to you?"

"Perfectly clear. Besides, I know Mr. Hawk is generous, but I'm sorry, I don't need it."

"Don't be ungrateful if you understand."

He grabbed my wrist tightly and said, "Come with me. As per our agreement, I said there would be benefits for you."

I struggled to free my hand. But despite the commotion, he didn't loosen his grip. Curious onlookers began to gather, only to be dispersed by Beth's cold demeanor.

Embarrassed by the scene, Nicholas

lowered his voice and questioned

me, "When you took on that case for someone else, I heard you didn't even sign a contract. You only got paid if you won. If you don't, you get nothing for three years. So how come you can take on that case but not mine?"

Someone else... I sneered. The "someone" he mentioned was the one helping me unconditionally when I needed it the most. What was Nicholas doing?

He was seeking death. He was declaring that he could not live without Claudia. He was ignoring me and Tabitha.

Recalling everything from last night, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. "What do you have to compare with others?"