Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas) novel Chapter 578

As Nicholas turned to shout at me, a rod swung down toward him. He couldn't react fast enough and had to raise his arm to shield his head.

A sharp clang rang out, the metallic impact unmistakably painful. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his arm trembled from the force of the blow.

"Help! Someone's being attacked!" a voice called out amidst the chaos, and panic spread through the crowd. Parents waiting to drop off their kids scattered, leaving me frozen in place.

The attackers shifted their focus to me. Their eyes glinted with malice as they advanced.

Nicholas noticed immediately. He grabbed one of the men by the collar and swung him toward the other two. The group tumbled to the ground like bowling pins.

He snatched up one of their rods, and the situation flipped. With the weapon in his hand, he coldly demanded, "Who sent you?"

The attackers exchanged glances but said nothing.

Although I had handled criminal cases before, this was the first time I'd been at a scene like this. My hands trembled as I fumbled with my phone. I had to call the police!

As I punched the number, a blood-curdling scream erupted behind me.

"Forget it. You don't need to answer," Nicholas growled, his patience gone. With a single swing, he broke a man's nose.

Upon hearing Nicholas' voice, the Hawk family bodyguards finally rushed over. Wendy arrived too, her face pale as she checked on me.

"I didn't realize it was you two! I was thinking about leaving to avoid trouble. Thank goodness I stayed!"

Wendy seemed shaken, but I wasn't. They were clearly after Nicholas. If he hadn't followed me, I wouldn't have been dragged into this.

His anger felt like an inescapable net, suffocating and relentless. Even though I had done nothing, I was still ensnared by it.

The tension between us hung heavy. We stood face-to-face, neither of us saying a word.

But I couldn't wrap my head around his outburst. Why was he so angry? I didn't do anything. Was I really the one at fault here?

"In your mind, it's always my fault," I blurted before I could stop myself.

Perhaps it was the weight of all the past grievances, the countless times I'd been misunderstood and blamed.

I lowered my gaze, too tired to argue anymore. It didn't matter. It was always my fault even if I had done nothing.