Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas) novel Chapter 529

Nicholas needed some time alone, and my mood did not ease from the heavy pain as I pushed open the door.

Just a door between us, and we were each steeped in our own pain.

"Ah! Ah!"

The sound of a little voice pulled me from my thoughts. I practiced my smile twice before I leaned over the railing.

"Tabitha!"

As expected, Tabitha was bouncing on the couch, leaving tiny footprints behind. Wendy kept a watchful eye on her, both of them entirely caught up in the fun.

Tabitha didn't hear me, but Wendy looked up in concern. "I'll bring her up to you."

"Let her play. I'll come down."

Seeing Wendy's worried expression, I pulled her into a quick hug and sat down beside her on the couch.

"Thank you, Wendy. I don't know what I would've done without you here. Tabitha wouldn't have adjusted as well without you."

Nicholas's earlier words were not baseless. As Tabitha grew older, there would be more people in her life. A hint of worry crossed my face.

"Are you still feeling unwell?" Wendy reached over, gently pressing her hand to my forehead. "You still look so pale."

I gave a faint, wry smile. After the emotional whirlwind with Nicholas, it was no surprise that my face showed it all.

"I'm fine." I didn't want to worry her, so I pulled Tabitha closer, brushing her soft cheek.

"Has Nicholas been good to her these past couple of days?"

Wendy nodded, lips curving into a smile.

I glanced back at the closed door of the bedroom, my heart growing heavy. No matter what misunderstandings Nicholas and I had, they were just fragments of the past. We couldn't rebuild or undo things because of Tabitha.

A part of me felt disappointed—he seemed to have changed in some ways, and in others, he hadn't. He still didn't consider how much certain remarks might affect me.

Nicholas, I wasn't made of steel either.

I got up and went to change clothes in the walk-in closet. On the way, I called Douglas, asking him to pick me up at Coral Villa.

As I strolled slowly toward the front gate, I even booked a table at a restaurant. I was starving and really needed a good meal.

But before I could reach the road, a man seemed to appear out of nowhere, startling me.

"Ariana, please! Please give me a chance, for old times' sake. I used to carry you when you were little—give me a way out!"