Trouble in Paradise



Chapter 0561

"Nicholas, how could you do something like that?" I looked at him with utter disappointment.

"She's not dead, is she? Or were you expecting me to beat her up?" Nicholas laughed lightly as he stepped closer, raising a hand to touch me.

"Don't tell me you feel sorry for her."

"Don't touch me!" I slapped his hand away, still unable to believe it. "S-She's your sister! And I didn't mean it seriously...

I had to admit that leaving Jay Caldwell & Co. was partly to avoid being bound by my profession or my moral compass when making tough decisions. But the words Nicholas said next shattered my worldview completely. *For what she did to me, even letting her die a hundred times wouldn't be enough."

Nicholas knelt before me, gripping my hands tightly. "Why are your hands so cold?"

He rubbed them hard before pressing them gently against his face.

'From now on, whatever you want to do, I'll take care of it for you. There's no such thing as 'didn't mean it seriously' when it comes to you. I'll take every word you say to heart. Ariana, does this still make you question my relationship with Claudia?"

He said solemnly, "I've never had any improper feelings for her."

He cupped my face, emphasizing again, "Never!"

"You... You already know?"

"I do."

"Then you can let her face legal consequences instead of taking such extreme measures yourself...' I trailed off suddenly, my words catching in my throat as realization struck me.

If Claudia was charged with intentional homicide resulting in Daniel's death, the punishment would undoubtedly be the death penalty. He couldn't bear to see her face legal consequences.

"Don't touch me!" I mustered all my strength to push him away and bolted for the door, but he caught me from behind,

His grip was so tight it made my whole body ache. Tears welled up in my eyes as I choked out, "I said, don't touch me!'

Nicholas looked lost, his eyes empty as if he'd lost all direction in life. "Ariana, what do you want me to do? What would make you happy? Everything I've done was to make you happy."

"Nicholas, there's nothing left to say between us. I used to think our problems were about feelings, but now I realize there's a chasm between us that no amount of love can bridge."

I almost forgot-Nicholas had never been a virtuous man. I'd learned that lesson long ago, but today he made sure I remembered it vividly. But what if Claudia had died?

Did he not consider that he'd have to pay with his own life? Did he not realize the burden his death would leave on the people who survived him? How could someone act so recklessly, with no regard for the consequences?

Nicholas let out a bitter laugh, the light in his eyes extinguished.

"Do you look down on me? You're a lawyer. But is being a lawyer such a noble profession? She got hurt, and I'll compensate her. I haven't broken any laws. Why are you defending her since she's not paying you?Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.

'As far as I know, lawyers only serve paying clients unless it's legal aid or some rare exception. In a way, lawyers are just businessmen, a regular profession. And yet, you look down on me for her sake?

"Your so-called professional ethics and morals-are they just double standards? When you represented Pete in his divorce, were you absolutely impartial? Otherwise, how did his ex-wife end up practically leaving with nothing? Pete not only got her company but also her entire fortune.

"You went that far for him-what about me? Ariana, have you ever thought about what it's like for me when you try so hard to push me away? Have you considered whether I can bear it?"