Trouble in Paradise

Nicholas' pupils darkened, and his body trembled. He looked past the men around him and watched me from across the detention room.

I saw his hand slowly clench into fists by his sides as if he had heard something unbelievable. He stared at me in a daze as if he didn't know me.

I looked at him with a smile, tears glistening at the corners of my eyes, and shouted, "Nicholas Hawk, I hate you!"

I was pushed back and forth until my body was numb. My mind started filling with memories of the insignificant moments between us.

I used to love acting coy with him, rubbing against him like a kitten. I would cling to him and call him Honey". I would blush and ask him to kiss me, love me, and make love with me.

I loved him and was willing to give him my all. Tears streamed down my face.

Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore and strode toward me. He kicked away the bodyguard closest to me and demanded, "What are you guys doing? Why is she in pain?"

The other bodyguards stepped aside, creating an unobstructed path. Even Claudia instinctively stepped back. There were ten steps between us. He didn't come closer, though he looked down at me with pity. "Ariana, I'm giving you this one chance. If you don't want to sign it now, we won't ever get a divorce." My eyes traced up from his spotless shoes, finally meeting his eyes after a few seconds. "Do you mean you don't want to get a divorce?"

I pulled the paper I hadn't had a chance to swallow out from my mouth and spread it out in front of Nicholas. It was stained with blood.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

"Did you just say you don't want to get a divorce?" I chuckled and questioned. "If you don't want to get a divorce, why did you have them cut my hand?"

With one hand in his pocket, he replied coldly, "It's an eyebrow razor. You're only having minor surface wounds."

Speechless, I was stunned for two whole seconds. Only minor surface wounds?

"You

"So..." I said, my voice tremblingwo came prepared. You had a knife and the divorce papers ready. Yet, now you say no divorce?"

"The divorce papers included the assets my father gave me..." I choked, unable to continue.

Although I had been mentally prepared, confirming the truth myself was still a shock that nearly broke me.

Nicholas frowned, his thin lips slightly pressed together. After a long silence, he finally said, "Is it important whether that's true or not?"

"That wasn't even close to an eyebrow razor." I looked at him stubbornly and questioned, "Minor wounds? Bullshit! Don't you think I know what an eyebrow razor looks like?" It was clearly an exceptionally sharp fruit knife!

My voice went soft when I added, "Do you know how desperate I felt with so many people pressing down on me? Despite my despair, you stood by and watched.

"We've been married for four years. Even if we were strangers passing by on the street, I believe any decent person, including women, would stand up for me. But you just watched.

"Hah! How I wish you'd just kill me. At least it hurts less."

Claudia wasn't happy to hear me speaking to Nicholas like that. She stepped forward and interrupted me. Ariana, don't talk to Nick like that. He only wanted to punish you a little for causing me harm. "My arm needed stitches because of you. Compared to my 20 stitches, how much pain could you possibly be in?

"Nick was just trying to give my parents and me an explanation. He's stuck in the middle for your sake, so why can't you be more understanding?"

I spread my hands in front of her. Indeed, the blood had turned brown, already dried.

"Not much pain, huh? Let me cut your hand and see if you can still say that!"

I lowered my head and started searching for the knife on the ground. If it wasn't painful, I might as well let her try it too, and see how it felt!

Nicholas grabbed my shoulder and reprimanded, "That's enough. Do you think Claudia wasn't in pain when you had someone stab her shoulder? Stop being so unforgiving!"

His hand pressed down hard on my shoulder, forcing me down. "Claudia received 20 stitches, and you only have five cuts," he simply stated.

"Ha ha! Should I thank you then?"

I wondered if I had heard him wrong. His words pierced my heart like needles.

I pushed him with all my strength and yelled, "Don't touch me!"

He took a step back with a frown.

"I'll sign the papers! Bring them here, and I'll fucking sign them!" I shouted.

I squeezed my fingers hard, causing blood to flow again. "Nicholas, maybe you're right. Buying freedom with money is indeed worth it."

Using my blood, I painstakingly signed my name, stroke by stroke. Ariana Jones.

When my father gave me this name, he intended for me to live a peaceful and happy life. But now, how could there be any peace in my heart?

I looked up at Nicholas and said, "Your turn."

I grabbed his hand and bit his finger until it bled. Then, he signed his name at the designated spot. Nich-