Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas)

Nicholas's coat flapped as if stirred by an invisible wind. He approached me with fury. He stepped closer, yanked open the car door, and grabbed my wrist. "Are you trying to run me over?"

He pulled me out of the car. The next second, he pinched my chin and lifted my face to meet his furious gaze. It was filled with a world-ending hatred as if he wanted to devour me whole. Nicholas glared at me and snapped, "Who told you to run away?"

It was completely normal to want to leave him. Yet, my struggles only fueled his anger further.

His grip tightened on my shoulder, holding me in place for a full five seconds as he threatened, "Try to run again, and see what will happen!"

Pain shot through my body, deep into my bones. Infuriated, I shoved him away. "Nicholas, who do you think you are? Do I need to report my whereabouts to you?"

Wendy saw the tension rising and squeezed in, trying to play peacemaker, but Nicholas pushed her back into the car.

"You stay here... Until she gets out of school!"

He still struggled to accept that I had a daughter now. He paused slightly as he mentioned Tabitha.

Once a child entered the picture, it felt like love, hatred, and everything in between should fade away. But the debts between us meant neither would find peace.

Nicholas shoved me into his car, with Beth sitting in the front. I didn't want to make a scene with him in front of an outsider, especially since Tabitha was about to finish school. I didn't want them to meet.

He remained silent, leaning back with his head tilted. He locked eyes with the driver in the rearview mirror, and the partition in the car obediently rose.

The car lurched forward, and I felt a wave of panic. I thought he just wanted to talk. I had to wait for Tabitha, and I couldn't leave.

Before I could say anything,

Nicholas leaned in. He draped his

arms over my shoulder,

compressing the space between us.

We were so close that our lips might

accidentally brush if we spoke.

I held my breath, afraid to move. His dark eyes glistened with a hint of moisture as he gazed intently at me.

We felt like the most familiar strangers. I should know him so well, yet three years had passed in the blink of an eye, and even his scent felt different.

Nicholas breathed heavily, his eyes reflecting an unintentional possessiveness that felt almost crushing.

It was painful, especially after seeing him with Claudia. Even a stray touch to my hair made me feel disgusted.

I turned my head slightly, trying to mask my emotions.

"Mr. Hawk, is this how you treat a woman? It's not very gentlemanly. If you have something to say, just say it. And where are you taking me?"

Nicholas sneered. He grabbed my

chin and forced me to look at him "What have I not done to you? Is this too much for you? Did I use too much force and hurt you?"

"Disgusting? Back then, you didn't let me use that much strength. But when I pulled back, you cried. Why didn't you say it was disgusting then?"

"Nicholas! You're so disgusting!" I felt embarrassed and angry.

At that moment, I felt a surge of

despair. After so many days back home, it was the first time I

regretted my decision. Perhaps my disappointment was too evident. A flicker of panic crossed Nicholas's face.

He rifled through my bag and pulled out my phone. Nicholas added his number to my contacts before finally releasing me.

"From now on, don't hide from me, got it?"

"Don't you dare delete it, or I'll show you something even more disgusting!"