Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas)
Chapter 611

Chapter 0611

Although Nicholas gave me his assurances, I still couldn't fully relax.

I lay beside Tabitha, unable to fall asleep. So, I decided to search for information on childhood autism. As soon as

I opened my phone, a trending topic popped up with Nicholas' name on it.

The headline read, "CEO of Hawk Corporation, Rumored Relationship Exposed!"

My heart skipped a beat, and I almost laughed. It couldn't possibly be Claudia again, could it?

Despite telling myself that, my finger still trembled when I tapped on the headline. Before the article even loaded, a side-by-side comparison photo appeared.

On the left, there was a photo of Nicholas from three years ago. He was kneeling in an airport lobby, his expression filled with agony during an episode. Scattered pills around him emphasized his pain and helplessness. The caption read, "She left, and he couldn't let go. It wasn't the suit that was wrinkled, but the helplessness and compromise of love. From then on, she lived in his heart, but they were forever apart."

On the right, Nicholas was dressed in a well-tailored black suit, looking elegant as he ordered food at a restaurant. His deep eyes were filled with clear affection, looking every bit the part of a man in love.

The caption read, "Because of his passionate and sincere love, buying her afternoon tea was just as important as any multi-million-dollar deal. He didn't care what others said about her.

"Instead, he showed with his actions that they simply didn't understand. They didn't understand why he willingly indulged in this love. It was all because she was worth it."

I couldn't help but zoom in on the picture of him, recognizing the suit from today's outfit. The man in the photo looked completely different from the broken one from years ago. He was almost like a new person.

The photos were clearly taken by someone dining in the same restaurant. The angle was perfect.

I couldn't help but think of the takeout box he'd thrown in the trash downstairs. If he had known what would happen, would he still think I was "worth it"?

The article ended with two zoomed-in images of hands from each photo, both wearing the same rings.

The caption read, "Mountains, seas, and freedom mean nothing compared to her."

The article didn't directly say anything, yet somehow it said everything. I noticed that someone had tagged my account in the comments section.

Unlike a few years ago, hate comments were rare, and most people were urging me to cherish the present. I touched my empty hand and turned off the screen. Staring up at the dark ceiling, I felt numb. The media was right. People didn't understand. They didn't understand what there was to cherish.

I closed my eyes in defiance and burrowed deeper into the bed, only to be enveloped by Nicholas' scent.

I tried to move away, but his faint scent lingered. I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Lying in a bed filled with his scent was like being on fire.

Tabitha made a small sound beside me, and I quickly patted her to calm her down. After she fell asleep, I slipped out of bed and sent Nicholas a message.

"Come back to the room and sleep with Tabitha. I'll go to my own room."

I crept out of the room and let out a sigh of relief. Not wanting to run into Nicholas coming back from the study, I hurried into the room next door.

"Someone save me... Please..."

I muttered to myself in frustration as I threw the covers back and climbed into bed.

Just as I was about to turn over, an arm suddenly wrapped around my waist. "What's wrong?"

I was so startled that my voice shifted and became high-pitched. "Ah! A ghost! Mmph!" Nicholas quickly covered my mouth and leaned over me. "It's me!"