Rift in the perfect picture

Chapter 0229

I met Nicholas’s gaze and spotted the palpable grief in his eyes. I could tell that he was struggling, but it was probably because his hope to build his own family had been shattered. This was something he’d been longing for since he was young, after all.

He said that I was ruthless because I failed to take his feelings into account and accommodate him. Daniel had also emphasized this point repeatedly to

1. me.

People said that an imperfect childhood required a lifetime to heal. He resented me for not staying by his side to maintain the pitiful facade of our marriage, so he thought I was heartless.

I drew in a deep breath and stifled the sting in my nose. I absolutely wouldn’t believe that Nicholas had even a sliver of affection for me.

“Suit yourself,” I said, pressing my forehead.

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Waves of resignation and exhaustion flooded through me. There was not point in arguing with him anymore.

Just as I was about to leave, Nicholas suddenly stood in my way. He was dressed in all black as if he was attending the funeral of our marriage.

Looking down at his shoes, I smiled wryly and shifted my stance so I could get past him. I wanted to get out of this relationship as soon as possible–at least I had to leave his side now.

But he got in my way again. As Nicholas grabbed my shoulders and shook them heavily, my chest tightened.

“But Ariana, why do I feel so upset?” he cried out.

Stunned, I stared at him in confusion and forced a smile. My voice was unconsciously tinged with imploration as I begged, “Just let me go. I can’t take it anymore.”

The fur of my thick coat flapped in the wind, and I felt particularly miserable.

Chapter 0229

+25 BONUS

“Your chivalry wouldn’t allow me to stand outside in the wind in this condition, would it?”

Nicholas suddenly took me in his arms and tucked me in his coat. It hurt when he rested his chin on top of my head.

“Ariana, why aren’t you upset at all?”

I blinked in the dark, not understanding why I should be upset. I couldn’t fathom why we should measure who invested more in this relationship with .this notion after we had separated. Was his greater sorrow a sign of his

deeper affection for me? It was absurd.

As if he’d taken the moral high ground, Nicholas actually dared to judge me.

“If you’re not upset, you should stay as my wife and fulfill the responsibilities expected of a marriage. You have to allow your husband to have other women around him, provide him with heirs and-”

“Nicholas, were you around when I was upset?” I interrupted, unable to bear it any longer.

“When I didn’t make it for the math competition, I was upset because I was afraid that I’d miss the chance to discuss math problems with you.

“I was upset when my family wanted me to take chess lessons because the lesson was at the same time as your school dismissal. I was afraid that I couldn’t meet you at the school gate.

“When I first learned that there were other suitors for you besides me, I was upset because I was afraid that I wouldn’t be good enough to become your wife.”

I sniffed hard, but tears still streamed down my cheeks.

“I was upset when I first realized how significant Claudia was to you. I was afraid that my husband didn’t only belong to me,” I said softly.

“This happened countless times. Do you understand how it feels when a relationship you’ve been working so hard on suddenly collapses?

Chapter 0229

“Nicholas, I showed my best side to you and endured all the pain in silence. I was so upset that I no longer knew how it felt to be upset.”

I glanced up at him in his embrace and nudged him away. He too had turned tearful.

“I hope what I said earlier can make you feel that this marriage isn’t entirely a failure. Wanting a family is a perfectly normal wish. I wish you all the best in finding a better wife.”

Waving at him, I turned and left.

Nicholas was just disoriented at the moment. He’d suddenly developed such intense feelings for me in a short period, and he just couldn’t accept the fact that it was all over.

With his opulent social circle and his beloved sister, he would soon forget about the woman who suffered so much for him.