Trouble in Paradise

Frances' words sounded gentle, yet cruel. She continued, "I'm only heartbroken for Nicholas. He didn't have a complete childhood, and now he can't have a complete family of his own either? "He should be able to have both a wife and a sister. Do you remember your wedding vows? I think Nicholas has done well on his part."

I was taken aback, recalling the moment during our wedding when the officiant hurriedly handed the microphone to Nicholas with trembling hands.

"If you become my wife, I will be responsible for you for this lifetime. You'll have more than whatever other women have." He had extended his hand to me and asked, "Will you marry me?"

That year, Nicholas was gentlemanly and elegant. He was still patient with me. I saw myself reflected in his eyes, so I placed my hand in his and said, "I do."

He smiled and pulled me into his embrace amid the applause from the audience, kissing me in front of

everyone.

He said, "Mrs. Hawk, please do take good care of me too in the future."

I forced a smile. His rushed words, though lacking in elaborate phrasing, still touched me deeply with their genuineness.

However, looking back now, someone like Nicholas, who could maneuver so freely in the business world, surely knew how to speak in a way that mattered.

It turned out that he had already made his feelings clear at the wedding-he felt only responsibility toward me, not affection.

"Yes, he did well," I replied to Frances for the first time that evening. "I was the greedy one. I wanted too

much from him."

Frances said, "Daniel and I have always treated you as our daughter, so we won't force you. I came today only to tell you things you might not know. "Whatever you choose in the end, Daniel and I will respect that. It's up to you two to make the decision."

As she finished speaking, the car came to a steady stop. I thought we had arrived at Coral Villa, but instead, the car had pulled up at my apartment.

The car door opened. Frances said nothing but seemed to have presented me with two choices. I could either follow her and Nicholas back to Coral Villa or get out and return to my own apartment, severing all ties with the Hawk family.

I stared unblinkingly at Nicholas' head, which was still resting on my lap. After a few seconds of silence, I gently lifted his head off and stood up.

As the car drove away, it seemed impossible for our shadows to intertwine again even under the romantic moonlight.

I felt as though I had just woken up from a grand dream. Rather than feeling refreshed, I collapsed into bed, exhausted. I closed my eyes, ready to sleep. I thought I would be sleepless, but I wasn't.

1/2

+25 BONUS

The next day, Yasmine called and asked me to attend a class reunion. The term "class reunion" felt

distant.

Ever since I married into the Hawk family and gave up my career, I felt like I had falled to live up to my teachers' expectations. I couldn't bring myself to face the classmates I had spent so much time with. "Yasmine, I'll pass!" I declined the offer almost immediately. I hadn't e Yasmine's voice was full of excitement as she exclaimed, "You have to come! You'll know why the minute you step in. We organized the whole thing for you! So, don't let me and Mr. Harmon down!"

Hmm?

"I just found out that Silas was our senior, but he is several years above me. How is our reunion related to him?" I asked with a smile.

Yasmine's enthusiasm had lifted my mood significantlyContent provided by NôvelDrama.Org.

"Ariana, don't worry about the details. Just get dolled up and come. Leave the rest to us!" Before hanging

up,

she emphasized, "Make sure to wear your best outfit! The best one!"

Her chatter didn't leave me much room to speak, let alone decline.