Once, my paranoid love

Ishi couldn’t resist sharing her thoughts with Nikita, muttering quietly, “Why does that chick always get the better one?”

Nikita, her jaw tight with unease, replied, “Anyway, Elena, I’ve come to ask about Paul. He hasn’t shown up for classes in the last few days. What happened to him?”

“I’m not sure,” I responded calmly, refusing to be drawn into her provocation.

However, Nikita persisted; her words were designed to hit a nerve. “Oh, I see now you have a husband, so you’ve forgotten about the previous one, right?” She taunted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Nikita’s taunting words, laden with sarcasm, didn’t elicit an emotional response from me.

Derek, protective and steadfast, couldn’t stand by and let Nikita’s words go unchallenged. His reaction was immediate and fierce. “Girl, watch your language,” he warned her, his tone firm as he fixed his gaze on Nikita.

But I intervened, keen to defuse the situation and address the issue with a level head. “It’s okay, Derek. Allow me to handle it,” I said, a gentle smile on my face, trying to maintain a sense of composure.

Nikita, clearly agitated, continued to fuel the confrontation. “You couldn’t keep him with you, Nikita. It was not my fault that you were unable to get him. He was the one who came to me all the time,” I stated matter-of-factly, confronting the unspoken tension between us.

Nikita, overwhelmed with emotion, reached out as if to strike me. But before she could make contact, Derek swiftly grabbed her hand, preventing any physical altercation. Nikita whimpered in agony, the pain evident in her voice as she exclaimed, “Ahhh.”

“Let me go; it’s hurting,” she protested, her voice laced with discomfort and frustration.

**

“How did you guys get to know each other?” Ron inquired, his curiosity getting the better of him.

The unexpected encounter between Ron, his father William, and Anne had left a sense of discomfort lingering in the air. Ron couldn’t help but feel puzzled by the presence of Anne and the implications of their past connection.

William, always composed and strategic, offered a calm response. “Ron, she’s a college friend,” he explained, glossing over the complexities of their relationship.

“This is the first time I’ve heard this story, Dad,” Ron pointed out, his skepticism evident. He knew his father well enough to understand that William seldom did anything for anyone without a clear business motive.

Anne, feeling the weight of Ron’s scrutiny, interjected, attempting to clarify the situation. “Ron, we weren’t in touch,” she stated, her words an attempt to defuse the tension in the room.

However, Ron, who was familiar with Anne’s personality, decided to overlook her comments, focusing on the bigger picture. He was well aware that there were underlying issues to be addressed and that his father’s motivations might not be entirely transparent.

“So tell me what you want from me,” Ron stated, his impatience growing. “And please say it quickly since I have to go to college.”

William, ever the businessman, got straight to the point. “Please come back home as soon as possible. Mr. Houston and I have an important meeting scheduled,” he explained, revealing the true reason for his unexpected visit.

**

The university atmosphere was charged with tension as the confrontation between Nikita and Derek escalated. The crowded room was a witness to the unfolding drama, and the atmosphere shifted from curiosity to amusement.

Nikita, overwhelmed by her emotions, yelled, “Let me go, Mr.,” her frustration evident in her voice.

Derek, protective and assertive, responded in kind. “How dare you touch my wife?” he exclaimed, his tone laced with anger as he pushed Nikita away. She lost her balance and tumbled to the floor, leaving the room in fits of laughter as they witnessed the unexpected spectacle.

I felt torn by the situation and reached out to Derek.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“Derek, let her go,” I implored, attempting to mediate the confrontation.

But Derek, with his unwavering determination and dominant demeanor, wasn’t inclined to back down. “There’s no need to be concerned, honey. My man will always be by your side,” he declared, his possessiveness clear.

I tried to protest, urging him to let go of his stance. “There’s no need for that, Derek,” I reasoned, my voice marked by a sense of compromise.

Derek, however, remained resolute, his affection for me driving his actions. “You need it, and I’m not going to listen to you right now, so don’t try to convince me,” he asserted, sealing his statement with a gentle kiss on my forehead.

The room remained abuzz with conversation and laughter as onlookers processed the dramatic scene.

“Now go to your class,” he said, a warm smile gracing his lips as he released my hand. With a nod, I headed towards my class, my thoughts filled with the complexities of the situation and the questions it had raised.

Eva and I, both caught in the whirlwind of the moment, walked to our respective rooms. The events of the day had left us both with much to ponder, and as we parted ways, there was a shared understanding that the mysteries surrounding our intertwined lives were far from being solved.

Meanwhile, Nikita Ray, who had been at the center of the confrontation, glared at Derek with a mixture of anger and confusion. Her emotions were raw and unfiltered, and it was clear that the encounter had shaken her.

“Nikita,” Ishi attempted to offer her support and assistance in standing up, but Nikita’s reaction was immediate and sharp. She shouted, “Don’t touch me!” Her anger was palpable, a reflection of her pride and frustration.

Derek, determined to leave a lasting impression, knelt down and spoke with unwavering resolve. “You’ll never see your boyfriend again,” he declared, his words carrying a weight that extended beyond the room’s walls.

Nikita, her gaze fixed on Derek, furrowed her brow in confusion. She asked, “What exactly do you mean by that? Who the heck are you?” Her voice was tinged with defiance and curiosity.

Derek, his grin unfazed by Nikita’s skepticism, chose to focus on the more pressing matter. “That doesn’t matter right now. The important question is, where is Paul?” He inquired, determined to unearth the truth about my brother’s whereabouts.