Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas) novel Chapter 546

Our gazes met, and I couldn't tell whether it was an unexpected, unspoken understanding or a long-planned encounter. Under the dim light, it felt like something was quietly growing between us.

Nicholas suddenly reached out, his hand brushing lightly against my cheek. It felt like he was checking if I was truly there, not just a figment of his dreams.

I froze for a moment, forgetting to push his hand away. But before I could react, he had already slowly pulled it back.

"Why are you doing this again?" I snapped.

"Nothing. Help me apply the ointment," he replied calmly.

He readily turned over as he spoke and laid flat on the bed. He even explained once again how he got hurt as if he were worried I wouldn't help him.

"I got hurt protecting you, after all."

Right now, that sentence felt like a spell. With just those words, he could control my every move...

I gritted my teeth and grabbed the blanket that had been kicked aside, covering him up completely. After preparing the ointment for his bruises, I pulled back just enough to expose part of his side.

Nicholas' dark eyes sparkled with amusement. "There's no part of me you haven't seen. You even know about the mole…"

I jabbed my hand against his waist sharply. "I don't think your injury is that bad."

Nicholas' forehead glistened with a light sheen of sweat as he winced in pain, but he didn't seem angry with me.

"The person who brought the clothes wasn't Ms. Gardner." I changed the subject.

"Right."

"I understand you might have to transfer her because of her disability, but she's been so loyal to you. You could at least find her a better position. Given how many people look down on others these days, she's probably struggling."

A faint displeasure flickered between Nicholas' brows. "If she did something unforgivable, would you still defend her?"

"She's holding so many secrets about you. If she really wanted to betray you, she wouldn't have waited until now. But I don't know the details, so it's not my place to comment. Do what you think is best."

The sight of someone who once held authority being reduced to gossip material was a little unsettling to me.

"I know what I'm doing," he said curtly, ending the discussion.

I fell silent too, and the room was momentarily steeped in quiet tension. I pressed my palm lightly against his waist, massaging to help the ointment absorb.

I bit my lip, not responding. After three years apart, I had no right to say anything about this.

I turned my eyes away, saying indifferently, "I'm leaving. Get some rest."

"Ariana!" Nicholas called out. "You don't like me like this, do you? If you don't, I can start working out again and get back to my best shape as quickly as possible."

Honestly, his body wasn't as bad as he made it sound.

He used to have a lower body fat percentage. When we were together, just the slightest movement would reveal his smooth muscle lines, showing off the beauty of a man's body.

But now, a thin layer of fat covered his muscles, making his body appear softer and giving off an impression of approachability.

He was just like a dangerous candy. It looked sweet and tempting, but women would be drawn to it. It was because he was so dangerous that I felt like if I ever tasted him, I'd die too...

I steadied myself and said, "Your body is yours. Just adjust it to the way you want. Whatever shape you're in has nothing to do with me."

"I only stayed alive for you. If not for you, I'd have been nothing but a pile of bones by now."