Trouble in Paradise

Nicholas started trembling uncontrollably, anger surging through him almost instantly, consuming every fiber of his being.

Although he was aware that there were still some unresolved misunderstandings between him and me, she had already said she didn't mind. He had thought it wasn't something important. But now, hearing he was the one who drove me away-how did that happen?

At that moment, he felt like even if he had 100 mouths, he wouldn't be able to explain himself clearly.

Taking a deep breath, Nicholas looked at Yasmine with sharp, piercing eyes. "I don't agree with what you're saying. Let me ask you this. Does Ariana believe that I drove her away too?"

It felt absurd to him, and his voice rose. "I didn't!"

He wasn't afraid of anything, but he feared me misunderstanding him. We had already lost too much time. Now, we had not only a daughter but also a son, and everything was finally moving in a good direction. He had imagined countless times a happy future with me and our children playing around them.

Yet, at this moment, he began to resent the woman standing before him. Her words were like a slap to his face, waking him from his beautiful dream.

Yasmine gave a knowing look, shook her head helplessly, and said, "It seems Ariana still hasn't told you. You think you didn't push her away because you don't know what she did for you."

"Cut the nonsense. Just tell me!"

"Do you remember your mother's case? Do you remember Claudia being arrested back then? Do you know why she was released?"

As Yasmine spoke, Nicholas fell into memories of that time. He recalled it as a period of chaos, one he least wanted to remember.noveldrama

His eyes turned red silently, and his voice became hoarse when he finally spoke. "Back then, Ariana distanced herself from me and everyone around me.

"She wanted to leave me, and she had irreconcilable conflicts with Frances and Claudia. Especially with Claudia-it seemed like they were both determined to destroy each other. I was stuck in the middle, in so much pain." Yasmine chuckled softly without humor. "So, you chose Claudia, didn't you?"

"No! I didn't choose her! I stayed close to her to keep an eye on her, to stop her from hurting Ariana. Everything I did was to protect Ariana."

"If Claudia could harm Ariana, it's because you gave it to her. Nicholas, you don't need to explain to me. If you want to explain, save it for Ariana." Yasmine studied the visibly shaken Nicholas, deliberating whether she should overstep her boundaries and reveal everything to him. Would I be angry if she did?

Nicholas spoke again, his voice so agitated it echoed down the silent hospital corridor, contrasting starkly with its stillness. "Did Ariana misunderstand that I chose Claudia? Is that why she left?"

Yasmine shook her head lightly. "Yes and no..."

"Speak clearly!"

Her words echoed in Nicholas' mind, dragging him into a whirlpool of pain like a demon. He crouched down, overwhelmed, his limbs growing cold and numb.

He looked at Yasmine, simultaneously eager and terrified of what she might say next. He feared that even if time rewound, he might not have been able to handle his relationship with me any better.

There were too many tangled

emotions between us, so

complicated that we would need to

start all over again-perhaps from

the first time we met as children-for

him to be certain of doing things right.

If time could really turn back, he would go back without hesitation. He would protect me, chase after me, and be the one to take the initiative. But he feared the cruel truths that couldn't be undone.

Yasmine's voice was cold and sharp. "Do you really not know why Ariana left you? I think you know better than anyone.

"Frances was unforgivable because Ari's health deteriorated because of her.

"Claudia was unforgivable as well, but not because of you. It's because Claudia's life was tainted by the blood of another-the life of your father."