Trouble in Paradise



"Christopher?" I gasped.

I had planned to slip away quietly, but Christopher's desperate cries were so loud they drew a crowd.

It was then I realized Coral Villa looked the same as before, yet it had changed in so many ways. Otherwise, where did all these people come from?

A guard in black kicked Christopher hard in the back, sending him sprawling face-first into the ground. Another guard pinned his arms behind him, while two more stood in front of me protectively.

As I looked back, Nicholas strode forward, trailed by a line of caretakers. The scene was so absurd that I didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Nicholas reached me in a few quick steps and pulled me behind him. "Are you hurt?"

I shook my head and instinctively pushed his hand away, putting some distance between us. I pretended not to notice the fleeting disappointment in his eyes as I walked up to Christopher and looked down at him.

Blood and dust clung to Christopher's lips as he lay on the ground, pleading.

"Ariana, please. I know I was wrong. Please, ask Mr. Hawk to show mercy, to spare my family. My son is only 10 years old-he needs his father.

"Ariana, you have a child too. You know what it's like for a child to grow up without a father, what they'll have to face. Ariana, please, I'm begging you...

I had never seen someone plead like this as if each word were a knife aimed at my heart. My Tabitha didn't have a father either...

Before I could react, Nicholas took a step forward. His leather shoes landed squarely on Christopher's mouth. I had never seen him with such a fierce expression.

"I let you out so you could handle your family's affairs, not to make a nuisance of yourself in front of my wife. "Nicholas..."

He had called me his wife again. With so many people around, I decided not to correct him. But the moment softly called his name, all other sounds seemed to vanish.

It wasn't Nicholas's imposing demeanor that shocked them-it was the way his foot retreated, and the faint smile that played on his lips as he looked at me.

They had all worked at Coral Villa long enough to know that our relationship wasn't close.

Especially after I left without a word three years ago, his temper had grown more unpredictable. Even the slightest sound could set him off. If not for the high pay, the staff likely wouldn't have stayed.

Now, seeing him stand quietly beside me, they looked on in disbelief. They seemed to think they were imagining it.

I didn't know what they were thinking. I only gave Nicholas a sidelong glance and asked, "What do you mean by handling his family's affairs'? Are you planning to wipe them out?"

Nicholas chuckled abruptly, dispelling the previous gloom. His eyes sparkled as he looked at me. "If you think so, then so be it."

But his face grew serious again as he turned back to Christopher, his expression hard and cold.

Christopher shuddered on the ground. I didn't pay much attention and said casually, as if discussing today's weather, "Let me handle this."

I had always tried to keep things quiet, not wanting to escalate conflicts. I knew I wasn't cut out for business and had taken on the position of president solely to protect myself when necessary.

But keeping a low profile wasn't working. Some things couldn't be left unattended. Either I lived in fear forever or got rid of the problem at the root.

I recalled the time Christopher drugged me and left me in that car. I would never want to go through that again.