Rift in the perfect picture

Chapter 0427

His question sounded demanding, yet fragile, at the same time. He emphasized “sang for you” like it meant everything.

“You say you never thought about growing old with me, but here you are, reminiscing about our past with someone new.”

He let out a low chuckle, but the pain in his eyes spilled out like a tidal wave, wetting his handsome face.” Ariana, tell me, are you lying to yourself?”

My heart clenched. A wave of hurt washed over me, which was impossible to hide. Looking at his face which looked as if it had aged, I felt a pang of nostalgia.

We were not young anymore. Even as we faced each other now, we would just be ghosts in each other’s past after today.

Steadying myself, I spoke more calmly than I thought possible, but my words were not for him. “Call security and your manager. We rented this whole place out. You guys let someone crash our party, and I want an explanation.”

Upon hearing that I was going to make a fuss, the boys went pale. They would lose all their tips from tonight’s bottle service, and maybe even have their pay docked.

Their fear turned to anger. These big guys used all their strength to try and subdue Nicholas, but he fought back like his life depended on it.

For a moment, it was anyone’s game, but the scuffle did not last long. He was outnumbered, after all.

For the first time in my life, I saw Nicholas pinned to the ground, looking like a mess. Tears mixed with dirt smeared his face. It was like watching an angel fall and transform into a demon–a grand, but cruel, metamorphosis.

Unable to fight back, he was overwhelmed. The boys tried to score some points with me. “Don’t be mad, miss. This is nothing. There’s no need to call the manager. We’ve got it under control.”

Nicholas laughed weakly from the floor, still clutching the mic. Even with so many hands holding him down, that air of nobility about him could not be squashed.

“Ariana! Say you’re lying to yourself!”

“Damn! She hasn’t even agreed not to call the manager, and you’re still running your mouth? I’ll shut you up for good!” one of them said before raising his foot and aiming at Nicholas’s mouth.

No way! How could anyone hit Nicholas? And in the face, no less! I jumped to my feet, and suddenly everyone was staring at me, dumbfounded. When I came to, I tasted iron in my throat.

Turned out I had screamed “No!” at the top of my lungs without even realizing it. I felt drained in an instant.

I collapsed back onto the couch as I gasped for air. Nicholas was looking at me too, silently mouthing,” Please, just say you’re lying to yourself, okay?”

I shook my head and covered my eyes for some reason. I did not know why, but even though Nicholas was begging me, I kept hearing his voice saying something else.

hapter

+25 BONUS

“Save me…” “Save me…”

Damn these hallucinations! I jumped up and stumbled out without even bothering to say goodbye to Yasmine. She called after me as she tried to follow, but the boys would not let her leave without paying the bill…

I did not know how long I ran. When every ounce of strength had left my body, I leaned against a big tree by the roadside to catch my breath.

The aggressive roar of a sports car grew louder. The next second, it stopped right in front of me. Nicholas jumped out…