Trouble in Paradise



Seeing Nicholas appear out of nowhere, my mind went blank.

Pete's heart-wrenching expression as he pushed me out of the car was still fresh in my memory. One was suppressing his heartbreak, while the other's voice trembled, barely able to question me.

Caught between them, I felt like an invisible hand was gripping my chest. The lump in my throat made it hard to hold back my tears.

My thoughts drifted back to three years ago, when I walked into the airport alone, ready to leave the land that had raised me for 20 years. Did Nicholas have his own reasons back then?

We had come so far together, step by step. Was there something I didn't know? Could this secret be so significant that even Pete was willing to back down?

Suddenly, a strong grip on my shoulder snapped me out of my thoughts. The slight pain brought me back to reality, and when I saw the cold expression on Nicholas's face. Any lingering feelings of "love" seemed to fade away.

"Does being apart from him hurt you that much?" Nicholas let out a wry smile. "When you left me, did you even shed a single tear?"

I lowered my head and tried to push away the hand causing me pain, but he caught my wrist and pulled me into his arms.

The night felt heavy. I had this unrealistic thought that, if time stopped right here, it wouldn't get better or worse between us.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but when Nicholas spoke again, his body seemed to tremble slightly.

"I need an answer. Did you two argue, or did you break up?" It was important to him.

I looked up into his eyes, summoning every bit of courage I had. "Nicholas, is there something you're hiding from me? Is there something between us that I don't know about?"

If what Pete said was true, and Nicholas really had his reasons, why shouldn't I hear him out?

If there was a misunderstanding between us, wouldn't resolving it give me closure for the years I spent loving him?

Nicholas froze for a moment. He stared at me for two full seconds before his brows furrowed deeply.

"Mommy Daddy!"

Just as Nicholas was about to speak, a childish voice interrupted him, and whatever he was about to say was swallowed back down.

Tabitha was slightly confused. Seeing both of us, she didn't know whether to call out "Mommy" or "Daddy".

I was startled. Seeing the darkness growing in Nicholas' eyes, I quickly tried to shake my arm free.

But his hand was like a hot iron, clinging tightly to my skin. The heat spread through my body, but it was the tension that overwhelmed me. Tabitha's eyes looked just like his!

"Oh my, sweetie! How did you get out here?"

Wendy came rushing out, patting her leg as she ran. She scooped Tabitha up, covering her face as she carried her back inside, not even taking a moment to greet her former employer.

I had told Wendy not to let Nicholas see the child, otherwise he would stop at nothing to fight for custody of Tabitha. She believed me without question.

I didn't say anything else. I knew better than anyone whether Nicholas wanted a child of his own. I understood

how deeply he longed for a family, but I didn't dare to take that gamble.

Suddenly, Nicholas's stomach clenched in pain. "S-She is your daughter...