Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas)

Nicholas stared into the void ahead, his cold smile unwavering as the indifference on his face became more apparent.

A pair of hands moved from his cheek down to his neck, unbuttoning one of his collar buttons. Claudia's voice continued, "Just like this, I helped you unbutton your shirt one by one, making sure you were more comfortable." "One by one?" Nicholas asked coldly.

"Yes, Nick. Let me show you," Claudia replied, stepping in front of him from behind the bench. Her ill-fitting dress revealed more than it concealed as she bent over.

Nicholas turned his face away. Although there was little to see, he grabbed her hand to stop her from touching him again.

"That's enough. What's next?"

Claudia's eyes lit up with excitement. He remembered everything. He must be asking her on purpose!

"Yesterday, you grabbed me like this. You said you missed me and wanted to hold me," she continued eagerly.

"I said that I missed you? I wanted to hold you?"

"I was shy at first, but you were so eager and enthusiastic. I couldn't refuse you, Nick," Claudia said.

Before she could climb onto him, Nicholas kicked her hard in the chest, sending her sliding three feet across the floor.

Nicholas finished her next sentence for her. "So, you climbed onto me and deliberately got intimate with me for Ariana to see."

Thunder rumbled outside, mirroring the gloomy expression on Nicholas's face. His dark eyes seemed to swallow all light. At that moment, Claudia felt as if she had been completely enveloped by darkness. She gasped in pain, gritting her teeth in anger.

"Ariana, Ariana! Nick! What about the

years we spent together? Did you forget everything? I'm Claudia, the Claudia you've known for so many years How long has it been since

you called me by my na

"Our relationship ended the moment you trapped me here. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for betraying my trust and for your vile intentions.

"We grew up under the same roof, and I've been your brother for so many years. Since you dared to cross that line, you'll face the consequences."

Claudia clutched her chest. She was unsure if the pain came from Nicholas's kick or from his words, which cut like a knife.

She couldn't believe Nicholas, who had once doted on her for so many years, would say such cruel things.

She murmured, "Nick, I love you so much. Why are you rejecting the one who loves you the most?"

However, her question went unanswered. Nicholas pushed open the hospital door and left.

He ordered, "Make sure she never appears in front of me again."

Beth nodded silently. After watching Nicholas get into his car, she turned back and entered the hospital. Inside, she saw Claudia crying on the floor. This was the moment Beth had waited for.

"Ms. Claudia, Mr. Hawk told you not to appear in front of him, but you wouldn't listen. Now, there's no choice but to teach you how to behave."

Claudia trembled in fear as the bodyguards approached. She kept backing away as she shouted, "What are you going to do? What are you going to do to me?"

She looked past them at Beth, shouting, "What are you doing? I'm the heiress of the Hawk family! What do you want to do? Nick won't let you get away with this!"

Beth smiled, her eyes filled with

deep hatred. She simply ordered the bodyguards, "Be gentle. Just don't

hurt Ms. Claudia's legs like mine. It wouldn't look good."

As soon as she finished speaking, there was a sharp cracking sound, and Claudia's screams were drowned out by the thunder outside...