Rift in the perfect picture

Chapter 0382

Nicholas still hadn’t come back to the bedroom at midnight. This was normal, but I had something I needed to discuss with him tonight. I planned to go abroad, and there was no way to hide it from him. The entire villa was dark, and the study lights were turned off as well. I thought he might be in the guest room downstairs, but I couldn’t find him after searching everywhere. I returned to the study, noticing that the door was slightly ajar.

“Nicholas?” I called out. However, there was no response.

In the moonlight, I saw a ladder that had been knocked over near the bookshelf. With a few books scattered on the floor, the study’s interior resembled a strange mix of order and chaos.

Nicholas was slumped over the desk, dozing off. His lashes fluttered constantly, indicating his restless sleep. I walked over and gently nudged him.

“Nicholas, go back to bed.”

Opening his eyes, he focused on my face with a dazed expression.

“Why are you here?” he rasped.

“Aren’t you done with work yet? You can finish tomorrow. It’s time to sleep.”

I had thought Claudia was demanding his attention every night, but it turned out she was out partying until dawn. He, on the other hand, was left alone and could only fall asleep at his desk, with no one concerned

about him.

Still yet to regain his consciousness, Nicholas felt disoriented. He sighed and pulled me close to him. “Where am I supposed to sleep?”

“In the bedroom,” I said,

His stiff, short hair scratched my skin through my pajamas, and it felt both painful and ticklish. Clutching the sleeves of my nightgown, I tensed up.

Things had been cold between us for a while. We had both been too busy, and it felt like it had been a long time since we flirted with ease.

“I don’t want to go back,” he mumbled,

His face was buried against my chest, his hot breath heating my skin and making my heart race. I hadn’t worn a bra since I was getting ready for bed.

I struggled to pull away, but I spotted the disappointment in his eyes when he glanced up at me. He looked as if I had somehow wronged him, and it instantly sent a wave of frustration through me.

Ignoring his will, I took his hand and yanked him up from the chair. He cooperated and followed me out of the study.

As I held his hand, I felt a deep indentation in his palm, probably from gripping a pen in his sleep. I Instinctively rubbed it with my thumb. Only after I did it did I realize what I was doing!

I quickly tried to pull my hand away, but he held it tighter. To ease the awkwardness, I asked, “How did the

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Chapter 0382

bookshelf fall over?”

“I knocked it over by accident.”

I

I remembered the time I had fallen off the bookshelf while looking for a book. Nicholas had thought I was trying to compete with Claudia for his attention back then.

“It’s not very safe,” I replied absently. “Tomorrow I’ll have someone install a motorized one with a track at the top.”

Nicholas didn’t say anything else. When we reached the bedroom, he laid me down on the bed and tucked me in before turning to leave.

I was surprised. He didn’t want to sleep with me. He was already by the door when I called out to him. He didn’t even turn around.

“If I sleep in the same room with you, I won’t be able to control myself, and then you’ll have to take the medicine again.”

Ariana never wanted his child. Nicholas often wondered if he would be left in solitude after his father passed. He would have no family, no wife, and no child–he thought this was cruel.

I never expected that to be the reason, but it was good that he could control himself. “Don’t go. I have something I need to discuss with you.