Rift in the perfect picture

Chapter 0358

25 BOAS

Nicholas stepped closer, blocking out most of the light. He lowered his solemn gaze and suddenly gave a faint, sorrowful smile

“Stop messing around. Don’t joke with me like this ”

His smile faded as his lips pressed together, turning pale.

I turned my face away and said calmly, I’m not joking

“So you’re upset. Tomorrow, I’ll have Ms. Gardner contact some brands and send you some clothes and jewelry. How does that sound?”

He turned my shoulders toward me and leaned in to gently kiss my cheek. “I remember you used to love dressing up.”

“Nicholas, is this what you do when there’s a problem between us? Do you just choose another path to get what you want?”

My heart felt heavy, not just because of Pete but because of Nicholas.

1 thought that, after all we had been through and hearing him say he loved me and seeing him get hurt for me, this was the kind of love I had always dreamed of. But this love was forced upon me, achieved only by him dismissing all other possibilities.

At this moment, I couldn’t tell if fate or effort was to blame. Should my feelings really be lost in his manipulations?

What would he think when he planned something and watched me sink deeper? Would he laugh? He might laugh at how close I was to 30 and still so naive,

Nicholas gritted his teeth. “What would you do in my place? You’re my woman. Am I supposed to just give you up? I don’t see anything wrong in trying to win back my own woman.”

“You scare me.” I shivered, my teeth chattering uncontrollably. I bit my tongue, and tears streamed down my face.

Nicholas smiled bitterly, his eyes devoid of any light. “What are you afraid of? I’m your husband, your only family in this world.”

Husband? Only family?

“No, you’re not my husband. How could possibly a scheming liar be my husband? If you were my husband, how could I rely on you and give myself completely?”

If he were my husband, my only family, I would be walking on eggshells.

I smiled faintly, looking up at him. “Good thing you’re not.”

Nicholas’s body stiffened, disbelief written across his face. He seemed shocked that the woman who had just been close to him was now turning so cold.

“Ariana, you’re being too harsh. I might not treat others well, but you’re the only one I have a clear conscience with. I’ve never been this good to any other woman!”

Chapter 0358

+25 BONUS

Nicholas rarely argued with anyone. Part of it was because he was the head of the Hawk Corporation, but it was also his nature. He thought getting into a heated argument was undignified and beneath at gentleman.

Now, seeing him stubbornly hold his ground was almost amusing.

I suddenly lost the desire to continue this conversation. We could argue for days and nights.

Wasn’t Jasmine a woman? He sent her to study abroad and bought her a house and a car. Wasn’t Claudia

a woman? Their closeness used to make me sick with envy.

“Believe what you want. I’m tired.”

I didn’t want to argue further. I pushed past him and headed toward the bedroom.

“Ariana, I love you!” Love spoken under these circumstances felt cheap.

“I don’t want to talk about love with you right now. There’s nothing more to say. Let’s cool off first.”

Nicholas didn’t stop me. He stood there silently, like a black hole, and soon disappeared from my sight.