Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas) novel Chapter 582

Nicholas seemed drained as if all his strength had been sucked out of him. I gave a light push, and it was effortless to slip out of his embrace.

As I reached the door, I glanced back at him. He was staring at the scattered paper on the floor, not even noticing the paper bits that had fallen on his head.

A wave of sadness washed over me, an emotion I couldn't hide. The helplessness I once felt now seemed like a painful memory, the kind that felt like a suffocating force that destroyed everything in its path.

I understood that feeling of isolation all too well, and I knew what I had sacrificed to survive. Compared to what he once gave me, it seemed insignificant. Besides, this punishment was long overdue, and it wasn't nearly enough.

Nicholas suddenly looked up, his face twisted in a pained expression that made it impossible to read his eyes.

"Why won't you listen to my explanation? I didn't do it. I would never hurt you or joke about your safety."

He didn't understand. His voice was hoarse and choked.

"Even if you don't trust me, don't you trust the police? Why won't you even look at the evidence? It's in black and white, and you still insist I did it? Ariana, this isn't fair to me."

I stared into his eyes as he vented his frustrations. But the way I distanced myself and the way I acted as though everything was insignificant only seemed to amplify the pain on his face.

Was this really all it took to break him? If he truly wanted to understand, he should go back to the past and search for the answers—if he was willing to.

I turned away, not saying a word. Who did this didn't matter anymore. What mattered was that there was nothing left to say between us.

Nicholas stared blankly in the direction I had gone. He felt that no matter what he did, it was all meaningless.

He slammed his fist onto the desk, sending a few pieces of paper flying. He felt numb, unable to regain any sense of feeling for a long time.

…

I thought distancing myself from Nicholas would bring some peace, but that night, it seemed like the whole world was searching for me. Everyone I encountered seemed to utter his name.

"Nicholas…"

"Mr. Hawk…"