Trouble in Paradise



Chapter 0589

Just as Yasmine had described, a few people were stationed outside Claudia's ward.

Several bodyguards dressed in black blocked the narrow hallway, casting shadows that dimmed the light streaming in.

The occasional sobs from inside the room only made the atmosphere more eerie. It was midday, with the sun shining brightly outside. Yet, a strange chill hung in the air.

"See? Didn't I tell you?" Yasmine whispered excitedly behind me. She stomped her foot impatiently. "Come on. Let's go in and take a look!"

Speechless, I turned to study her expression. She seemed worried earlier, but now there was a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.

"I can't help but suspect you dragged me here because you couldn't stand missing the drama. I'm not your backup-I'm your ticket to this show, aren't I?"

Yasmine let out an awkward laugh. "Come on! I'm really worried too!"

She clutched her chest and paced in place, although her gaze remained fixed on the ward." Quick, let's go in! I'm so, so concerned!"

I stared at her for two seconds. If I didn't know her better, I might have believed her.

You should head back to the firm. I'll stop by later and tell you everything that happens."

Her face froze as if struck by lightning. For a long moment, she couldn't accept the idea that I wasn't letting her inside.

The tangled web between Nicholas and Claudia was messy enough. I didn't want Yasmine getting dragged into it and becoming a target for Claudia's resentment. Some things were impossible to guard against.

It took a lot of convincing and repeated promises that I'd meet her later at the firm before she reluctantly agreed to leave.

To my surprise, the bodyguards stationed outside the room didn't stop me. It seemed someone had already given them instructions to let me through.

When I pushed open the door and took in the scene before me, I froze.

A wave of dread rose within me, and my legs began to tremble. I gripped the door frame for support, barely managing to stay on my feet.Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.

The room was dim despite the partially drawn curtains letting in a sliver of sunlight. The stark contrast between light and shadow divided the space in an eerie way.

Nicholas sat expressionless in the light, while Claudia lay slumped on the shadowed hospital bed. She was lifeless like a broken doll.

A pale, ghostly light seemed to envelop her. Her face was drained of all color, even her lips nearly translucent. Her hollow cheeks deepened the gauntness of her face, and her sunken eyes appeared unnaturally large.

When she noticed me, a flicker of awareness returned to her gaze. A raspy, faint sound escaped her throat. If gazes could kill, I'd have died countless times in that brief moment under her glare.

Her once doll-like hair was unevenly chopped, strands scattered around her in clumps. Patches of it were scattered across the room, creating an unsettling black web.

Blood dripped from all ten of her fingers, each wound deep and grotesque. A closer look revealed that even her nails were gone. Both sides of her hands were a horrifying mess of raw flesh and blood.

Some of the blood had dried, leaving dark stains on the bedding. My gaze shifted down toward the lower part of the bed, where her legs should have been.

The blanket lay unnaturally flat as if an unseen force had erased the presence of her lower body entirely.

This was the girl who once worshipped Nicholas like a god. Now, her legs were taken by the will of the very god she idolized. Bloodied and battered, she clung to life.

Yet, when her gaze fell on Nicholas, a spark of light still remained in her eyes.

Nicholas, the so-called god, remained impassive. His gaze, devoid of emotion, offered no trace of pity as he looked at her.

He slowly turned to me, lifting his hand in a gesture that felt more like a command than an invitation. "Come here."

I shook my head and immediately spun around to leave.

I couldn't bring myself to step inside. The strands of hair strewn across the floor seemed like a net, ready to ensnare me if I made a single misstep. I feared I might end up just like her.

Before I could escape, a bodyguard blocked the door behind me. From behind me, Nicholas' voice rang out. "Since you're here, you might as well take a look before you leave.