Trouble in Paradise

"Say that again!" Mom's arm shot up as if ready to strike me, but Nicholas intervened from across the room.

"Brenda, Ariana and I have had some disagreements lately. I'll talk to her about it."

"Oh! Was I interrupting your call? I'll go now. I didn mean to keep you both." Mom hadn't expected Nicholas to be watching. us, and her attitude shifted instantly.

Her blow didn't land on my face, but my head took a good Knock. Recently, it felt like my head had been through a lot.

"Nelson's out there too! I did him a favor by giving him some land, so we're square now. You know how it goes." Mom reminded me quietly.

I looked down, silently urging her to go. I missed Dad dearly.

Suddenly, Nicholas enveloped me in a warm hug, catching me. off guard. His embrace offered unexpected comfort, starkly contrasting the tension with Mom just moments earlier. Feeling vulnerable, I didn't resist his gesture at first.

He gently touched my waist a few times before I turned to meet his gaze, hoping for solace. Instead, he asked, "Do you know Nelson?"

1 sneered. "Are you trying to impress him as well?"

While the Fisher family lacked the power the current Hawks enjoyed, their longstanding heritage ensured their network of

connections was firmly established. It wasn't uncommon for a young man like Nicholas to pursue relationships with people like Nelson.

Nicholas shook his head. "Ariana, let's make a deal."

Remembering Mom's advice, I quickly refused. "I don't know him!"

He reached out to touch my cheek. "This isn't about Nelson. Claudia's mad at me. I need you to talk to her for me."

Suddenly, a sharp pain seized my chest, leaving me unsure of how to respond in that instant.

"In exchange, I'll forgive your debt. Tomorrow, you'll take Claudia to her new college," Nicholas said solemnly.

Regaining my voice, I asked, "Why? Can't your driver take her if you're busy?"Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

"I have the time, but Claudia and I are at odds. I need you to act as a mediator for us. You're aiming to be a lawyer, aren't you? Are you going to miss an opportunity to wipe out seven million in debt just by talking?"

I couldn't believe it. It reminded me of yesterday when Claudia had cried in his arms for what seemed like hours.

Sending his wife to negotiate with the other woman-was this his idea of a solution? How much more did he intend to push me before giving up?

I felt suffocated as if he were trapping me at every turn. I asserted firmly, "That's not happening!"

"Ariana, it begins with you. You bear the primary responsibility here!" Nicholas snapped.

I clenched my fist, unable to hold back, and struck his chest with force. He was the one playing both sides!

But instead of getting angry, he simply let me go and said," Take your time to think."

My mind froze for a moment. Life seemed to suffocate me with every twist and turn. I realized I shouldn't depend on others for comfort as it only ended in disappointment. After some reflection, I replied, "I'm open to it, but on certain terms."

"Go on."

"What about our divorce? Have you thought about that?"

Nicholas held my gaze firmly, his refusal unwavering. "The divorce agreement you sent has been shredded. I won't allow anyone to disrupt the balance of my life."

I glanced down, focusing on the gleaming tip of his shoe while hiding a wry smile. I knew he wouldn't yield easily, so I said, "I'll go with something else instead. You clear my seven million debt, allow me to retain my job, and we agree to live apart for two years without surpri