Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas)
Chapter 617

Chapter 0617

Nicholas held my hand and gently brushed it against his cheek.

"Tabitha will be fine. Our child will be healthy and happy. Everything will be okay."

He repeated it over and over as if to convince both of us. Was he nervous too?

I looked into Nicholas' eyes and nodded sadly. Seeing the redness around the comers of his eyes, guilt washed over me. I had let my emotions get the better of me earlier.

When Nicholas was a child, he didn't have a choice either. No one had asked if he wanted to endure illness. I couldn't place all the blame on him for this.

"I'm sorry," I said softly.

He was calmer than me, and he was right. In a situation like this, if both of us broke down, who would comfort Tabitha?

"You don't need to apologize to me. I failed to protect you and Tabitha, and I caused you both a lot of pain. But at least now, I have the chance to make up for it."

"Nicholas," I called out to him.

"What is it? Are you scared? Worried? Don't overthink it. Tabitha will be out in just a few more minutes. I'm here with you."

His voice was gentle, yet firm. As he wrapped his arms around me, it felt like he was silently passing some of his strength to me. Slowly, I started to calm down.

"Nicholas," I looked up at him and asked softly, "What was it like when you were young?"

I couldn't imagine how much more Tabitha would have to endure if she didn't have us by her side. Just thinking about it broke my heart. At the same time, I felt a deep ache for the childhood Nicholas had suffered through.

If I had been his mother and he'd endured such a childhood, the fact that he'd become the exceptional man he was today would be nothing short of remarkable.

Nicholas froze for a moment before letting out a faint, bitter smile. "Those memories feel so far away now." His hand brushed gently over my hair, his dark eyes clouded with the pain of unspoken memories. "Those things can't hurt me anymore. Now, I only hope for you and Tabitha to be happy and healthy."

A soft kiss landed on my forehead. Nicholas cupped my face, his deep black eyes filled with my reflection." Ariana, you and Tabitha are my everything."

His gentle, soothing voice felt like a quiet thunderclap reverberating in my chest.

I had just asked Douglas to help arrange a visa for Tabitha. For a moment, I hesitated. Watching Nicholas, I felt the words catch in my throat. He mistook my unease for sadness over his past and tried to comfort me.

"When I was a kid, I would've loved a mother like you who cared. It would've made all the difference." He spoke lightly, as if it were no big deal. "It's a regret for sure, but it's all in the past now."

His words made the already heavy atmosphere even heavier, but he quickly shifted the topic.

"Wipe your tears. Tabitha will be out soon, and I'll take her home first. I don't want Tabitha to stay in the hospital for too long."

Nicholas was very thoughtful.

The doctor still needed to talk to us, and it was hard to tell how long it would take. Sending Tabitha home first was the best option. I nodded in agreement.

When Tabitha finally came out of the examination room, the last test was complete. I hurried over to her.

"Tabitha, are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? Does anything hurt?"

I took her little hand and pressed it to her chest. "Or here? Does it feel strange?"

Everyone, including the doctors behind me, held their breath as we waited for her response. When her tiny head shook in denial, relief swept over us like a wave.

"Tabitha was such a good girl today! Come on. Let's go home with Daddy."

Nicholas crouched down and scooped her into his arms. He turned to me and said, "Stay here and wait for the test results. I'll be back soon."

I nodded and watched them leave.