Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas) novel Chapter 512

Pete must have assumed something happened between Nicholas and me. But even if I tried to explain, I wasn't completely innocent.

I didn't know what to say. Facing Pete, I had never been so tormented as I was now.

"No. That's not what I meant." Pete suddenly looked a little flustered when I stayed silent.

He explained, "I meant to ask, how could he possibly let you leave?"

He had been digging into a few things these past few days. He now understood that Nicholas clinging to me wasn't surprising. Maybe he wasn't as indifferent and irresponsible towards me as people thought.

Pete had his own motives. There were things he didn't want me to know. But could fate between two people really be severed by his efforts alone?

It had been three years, and Pete still hadn't managed to win my love. He couldn't stand seeing me suffer like this any longer.

There were things I deserved to know. Only then could I make decisions I wouldn't regret later.

Pete kept his head down. He didn't even notice when I turned to look at him.

"I left because I wanted to." I pretended to be lighthearted, but the weight in my chest made it impossible to feel that way.

"Ari, over these three years, how many times have you thought of Nicholas?"

I froze, unsure why he would ask such a thing. Instinctively, I denied it. "Who would ever think of him?"

Pete chuckled softly and raised his hand. But instead of ruffling my hair like he used to, he gently smoothed the strands that had fallen out of place.

His eyes were pure, free of any complex emotions. After fixing my hair, he cupped my cheeks and wiped away the smudged lipstick with a tissue.

There was regret in his voice, and his gaze felt like he was looking at a bride about to be married off. "Ari, sometimes I regret never crossing that line with you."